Malibu Voter Participation Slips

The numbers are in, and local voter participation is on the decline. 

Last week’s primaries garnered just 19.8 percent turnout among eligible Malibu voters — 10 percent less than the last non-presidential primary and nearly 60 percent less than the 2012 presidential election. 

Still, Malibu’s participation rate was higher than the LA County average, which saw about 13 percent voter turnout across the board. Statewide, California averaged 18 percent turnout. 

Of Malibu’s 9,097 eligible registered voters, a combined 1,799 voters (19.8 percent) submitted ballots in person last Tuesday or in the mail. 

In the 2010 primary election, a nonpresidential primary year, 29.4 percent of Malibu’s voters headed to the polls. In the fall 2012 presidential election, 77.7 percent participated. 

Here’s a look at how the November elections shaped up after last week’s primary: 

Kuehl, Shriver head for runoff 

As widely expected, former State Sen. Sheila Kuehl and former Santa Monica Mayor Bobby Shriver led the race for LA County’s Third District supervisor seat and will now face off in the November election. 

Despite Shriver’s thicker wallet — he had more than $1 million in his coffers during primary season — Kuehl was the top vote-getter last Tuesday. She finished with 36.2 percent of the vote, while Shriver came in at 28.8 percent. Former Malibu Mayor Pamela Conley Ulich came in a distant fourth place with 6.5 percent of the vote. 

School board member moves closer to State Senate seat 

Ben Allen, who currently serves on the Board of Education for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, was the top vote-getter in the State Senate race for California’s 26th District. 

He finished with 21.9 percent of the vote, while newcomer Sandra Fluke came in a close second with 19.4 percent. They both beat out former State Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, who came in fourth. 

The 26th district does not cover Malibu, but a victory by Allen in the November runoff against Fluke would open his seat on the local Board of Education. His campaign has been bolstered by endorsements from County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and businessman Bill Bloomfield. 

Allen and Fluke are battling to replace State Sen. Ted Lieu, who is running to replace U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman. 

Republican Carr faces off with Lieu for Waxman’s seat 

In the race for 33rd District U.S. Representative, Republican Elan Carr finished with 21.5 percent of votes, followed by Democrat Ted Lieu with 19 percent. 

Despite deep pockets and a celebrity following, independent candidate Marianne Williamson finished third and out of eligibility for the November runoff. She led in Malibu with 324 votes. 

McDonnell leads for County Sheriff 

Jim McDonnell, the current Long Beach Chief of Police, held 49.1% of the votes for LA County Sheriff, including 473 votes in Malibu. 

Since the resignation of LA County Sheriff Lee Baca, the position has been filled by interim Orange County Sheriff John Scott. 

McDonnell will face former Undersheriff Paul Tanaka in the fall runoff. Tanaka was far behind McDonnell though, receiving just 15 percent of the total votes. 

Lindsay Albert walks out of the polls at Duke’s Restaurant.