Local Elections

(Inc.) designates incumbent Winner is marked with an asterisk (*) Redondo Beach CITY TREASURER 25 of 25 precincts FINAL Vote % *Alice E. De Long (Inc.) 2,009 53.6 William MacAlpin 1,734 46.4 Voter turnout 11.7%

(Inc.) designates incumbent officeholder. Winners, when determined, in bold type. 27 of 27 precincts. 19.8% turnout. MAYOR Vote % W. Brad Parton 3,669 55.7 Frank Bostrom 2,914 44.3 CITY COUNCIL District 2 6 of 6 precincts. Vote % Kay Horrell (Inc.) 891 52.4 Michael F. Ford 811 47.6 District 4 4 of 4 precincts. Vote % Terry Ward 528 52.2 Valerie Dombrowski 483 47.8

Having read Roxana Kopetman's informative article on partisan politics in local elections Jan. 19, I would like to add a different perspective to the subject. As a practical matter, the Republican county chairman's endorsements have really had little to do with pure partisan politics, and under close scrutiny they are far more influenced by the building industry than they are by Republican philosophy. In Newport Beach, the chairman's public support went to a pro-growth candidate over a highly qualified and experienced Republican who was also running for the same City Council seat (both lost)

The letter (Nov. 11) by Patricia A. Gazin criticizing the Democratic Party for involvement in the Hermosa Beach municipal election ignored the fact that political parties, as well as other groups, have a right to offer and work for candidates in a nonpartisan race. Her vague and broad complaint was an insult not only to the Democratic Party but to the democratic process. Both the Democratic and Republican parties worked for a candidate in the Hermosa Beach campaign. This is not "meddling"; it's part of the American democratic tradition.

CITY COUNCIL (Three vacancies) If no candidate receives more than 50% of all ballots cast in the city, there will be a runoff election April 9 between the top six finishers. If one candidate receives more than 50%, there will be a runoff between the next four finishers for the remaining two seats. If two candidates receive more than 50%, there will be a runoff between the third- and fourth-place candidates for the third seat. Winners in Bold Type. Runoff candidates in Italics .

Local elections were held across Syria on Monday even as opposition activists said government forces were continuing their violent crackdown against dissent and clashing with insurgents. President Bashar Assad's government had promoted the poll as part of a series of reforms in response to months of anti-government protests, saying steps had been taken to allow more people to run and to avoid fraud. But opposition activists dismissed Monday's vote as a charade, saying they wanted nothing short of Assad's removal.