Turnout Is Scant in NYC’s Primary

NEW YORK —  With the trauma of terrorist attacks still fresh in their minds, New Yorkers on Tuesday sent two Democratic candidates into a runoff for mayor, and handed media mogul Michael Bloomberg a strong victory for the Republican nomination.

There was scant turnout, however, in a primary election that will shape the city’s response to the World Trade Center disaster for years to come.

In the Democratic contest to succeed Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer and Public Advocate Mark Green appeared to be headed for an Oct. 11 runoff. Ferrer, seeking to become the city’s first Latino mayor, won 36% of the vote and Green captured 32%, with 26% of precincts reporting. City Council Speaker Peter Vallone and Comptroller Alan Hevesi were running behind.

Bloomberg--who spent $20 million of his own money--won a 66%-34% victory over former Bronx Congressman Herman Badillo.

Under city rules, the winner in each party must receive at least 40% of the primary vote; if there is no winner, a runoff is held between the two top vote-getters. The general election will be held Nov. 6.

Even before the World Trade Center calamity, the six mayoral candidates were laboring in Giuliani’s shadow. Although he has won international praise for his handling of the crisis, term limits bar him from seeking reelection. But the political landscape here was jarred this week with revelations that the mayor may try to get the law overturned and launch a grass-roots write-in campaign that would enable him to stay in office.

“This is a time to renew New York,” said Ferrer, who has been a persistent critic of Giuliani. “Rebuilding our city is not just an economic imperative, it’s a spiritual imperative. We have to reach out to each other.”

Ferrer put together a strong coalition of black and Latino voters, who comprised 46% of the overall Democratic turnout. But in a sign of potential trouble ahead, he won only 7% of white votes. Green appeared to run more evenly in all parts of the city, according to early returns. Normally, the Democratic nomination is tantamount to victory, given the party’s 5-1 registration edge over Republicans.

Board of Election officials voiced dismay over the estimated 15% turnout, one of the lowest in recent history. Polling places that would normally have long lines of people were quiet and empty all over New York.

But there could be fireworks to come as the election season continues. More than 40% of Democrats said they would be willing to vote for Giuliani if a way is found for him to get on the November ballot, according to an Associated Press exit poll. The idea also won support from Republican voters; an estimated 15% of them are believed to have written in the mayor’s name on their ballots. Those numbers, however, are not part of the official total.

Ellen Kole, who teaches French and Spanish at a private school, said she would have chosen Giuliani if he had been on Tuesday’s primary ballot.

“He’s not my favorite mayor,” she said. “The kind of mayor we need, however, is one who knows how to take charge and knows from experience. I think the city right now needs someone to lead it.”

The primary election, originally slated for Sept. 11, was halted by Gov. George Pataki several hours after the World Trade Center attack. It was rescheduled for Tuesday, yet in recent weeks the prospect of an election has been greeted with skepticism and weariness by many New York voters.

“This town is in a state of shock, and for a lot of people the election is the last thing on their mind,” said political consultant Hank Sheinkopf. “But the truth is, this is a very important decision people will make.”

The next mayor, he explained, will be tackling problems of economic recovery, physical rebuilding and psychological security.

Besides mayor, voters were also choosing candidates for comptroller, public advocate and two-thirds of the City Council.

*

Times staff writer Charles Ornstein contributed to this report.