Los Angelinos reject tax hike amid apathetic turnout

Los Angeles voters went to the polls on Tuesday to elect a new mayor and to decide on an increase to the city's sales tax. Two mayoral candidates are headed for a runoff election and the sales tax measure failed.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is leaving office on July 1 after serving his maximum two terms. Angelinos must now decide who his replacement should be. Their choice is now whittled down to Councilman Eric Garcetti and Controller Wendy Greuel.

Voters also appear to have rejected a sales tax increase that would have raised the city's sales tax to 9 percent, the highest in the state. Advocates say the sales tax is needed to prevent cuts to law enforcement and the fire department.

Turnout for the elections was poor with only a 16 percent turnout of eligible voters. Many are fatigued with elections, especially following the intense presidential election last November.

The new mayor will be seated this summer and face an immediate budget deficit of some $216 million per year.

Unfortunately, for voters, the runoff election means more campaigning and more fatigue leading up to the final vote.

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