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Furutani, Nakano Lose in Primary Election
By GWEN MURANAKA and AUDREY SHIOMI
Rafu Staff Writers
Wednesday, June 7, 2006
Judy Chu, Mike Eng, Mary Hayashi and John Chiang are winners in their races. |
NAO GUNJI/Rafu Shimpo
Former Assemblymember George Nakano, candidate for the 28th State Senate District, and his wife Helen watch election returns Tuesday night in Torrance.
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In an election marked by low voter turnout, both George Nakano and Warren Furutani were apparently defeated in Tuesday’s primary election.
Nakano on Wednesday afternoon had not conceded to opponent Assemblymember Jenny Oropeza in the race for the 28th State Senate pending final tallies on absentee votes and provisional votes. He was seeking to become the first Japanese American in the State Senate. Assemblymember Ted Lieu and Torrance School board member Al Muratsuchi were among the supporters joining Nakano on election night.
With all precincts reporting, Nakano was trailing 26,645 to 29,968 votes. Nakano held a six-point lead on Oropeza early Tuesday evening, but the votes turned later as tallies from more precincts came in. Nakano said he was hurt by negative campaigning and a low turnout by moderate Democrats, who were more likely to support him.
“We had some thought as to what happened. In the last three weeks there were negative materials sent out against me on a daily basis, that might have had some cumulative affect,” Nakano observed.
On Wednesday afternoon, Nakano told Rafu he was awaiting word from his consultant on whether to concede or not. He noted receiving a call late Tuesday from Rep. Jane Harman with words of encouragement.
“She called to remind me that in 1992 she was behind by 250 votes, until the following morning when the absentee and provisional votes came in,” Nakano said. |
AUDREY SHIOMI/Rafu Shimpo
Warren Furutani, candidate for State Assembly, is embraced by a supporter on election night in Carson.
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Furutani conceded Wednesday morning to opponent Laura Richardson, a Long Beach city councilmember.
“We did all we could possibly do to win but sometimes you’re just not the right candidate,” he said to The Rafu. |
Richardson beat Furutani in the Democrat primary race for 55th State Assembly seat with 54.11 percent, or 12,141 votes. Furutani had 45.89 percent or 10,297 votes.
Spending Tuesday at a labor rally and making a final precinct walk with his wife and two sons, Furutani ended the night greeting nearly 100 volunteers and supporters an election party at the DoubleTree Hotel in Carson.
Volunteers included dozens of students from Carson High School who waved campaign signs as he entered the room. Throughout his campaign, Furutani, a Los Angeles Community College trustee, maintained a strong focus on higher education.
“Someone described the past six months as me waiting to exhale,” said Furutani. “Well, now I’m exhaling.”
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In other races, John Chiang, Mary Hayashi and Judy Chu emerged victorious following Tuesday’s primary election.
Board of Equalization member Chiang beat Sen. Joe Dunn in the Democratic bid for state controller. Chiang had 53.19 percent of the vote while Dunn had 46.81 percent.
In the Democratic race for a seat on the State Board of Equalization, Assemblymember Chu beat Jerome Horton, Rita Rogers and Vonny Abbott with 49 percent of the votes. She faces Republican candidate Glen Forsch for the 5th district seat in November.
Mary Hayashi narrowly won the Democratic race for State Assembly, District 18, over Alameda County Fire Chief William McCammon. Hayashi had 51 percent of the votes to McCammon’s 49 percent.
With 52.04 percent of the votes, City Councilman Mike Eng took the 49th State Assembly seat by a wide margin against Daniel Arguello, with 36.6 percent, and Dave Siegrist with 11.36 percent. He faces Republican Esthela Siegrist and Libertarian Laura Brown in November.
U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui ran unopposed during this week’s primary election. She faces Republican Xiaochin Claire Yan, Green Party candidate Jeff Kravitz and Peace & Freedom candidate John Reiger in her bid for reelection in November.
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