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Garcetti won 81
percent of the vote, according to a tally of all ballots early
on Wednesday.
The nearest of his 10 challengers Mitchell Schwartz, who was
California state director of Barack Obama's presidential
campaign in 2007 and 2008, trailed with just 8 percent of the
vote.
Garcetti, a 46-year-old Democrat, was "deeply honored" to serve
a second term, he said on Twitter early on Wednesday.
During his campaign, the mayor highlighted his support for a
measure to raise the city's minimum wage, and employment gains
in the aftermath of a nationwide recession. He also enjoyed a
significant funding advantage over his rivals, reporting raising
more than $3.8 million as of March 1.
Schwartz, the only other candidate to have raised substantial
funds, is expected to have spent $790,000, a spokesman said.
Schwartz, 55, made the city's rising crime rate and soaring
housing costs focal points of his campaign, also warning of a
looming pension fund crisis.
Garcetti, who defeated then-city Controller Wendy Greuel in a
run-off four years ago, is the son of former prosecutor Gil
Garcetti, whose office tried O.J. Simpson for murder and lost.
Drawing almost as much attention in Tuesday's municipal
elections was ballot Measure S, aimed at limiting urban
development by halting "spot zoning" amendments to the city's
General Plan for two years.
Supporters of the plan, which was defeated with 69 percent of
voters against, said spot zoning permits granted to wealthy real
estate interests had spurred runaway construction, increasing
congestion and driving up housing costs.
Opponents said it would have undermined the city's efforts to
create more affordable housing.
(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; editing by John
Stonestreet)
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