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Ex-Gang Prosecutor To Face Off Against Lieu For Waxman Seat

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The race to replace retiring Congressman Henry Waxman in a predominantly Democratic Westside-South Bay-San Fernando Valley congressional district is now down to two candidates.

KNX 1070's Megan Goldsby reports voters will choose between Republican candidate Elan Carr and Democratic State Senator Ted Lieu when they go to the ballot box in November.

Ex-Gang Prosecutor To Face Off Against Lieu For Waxman Seat

Carr, a gang prosecutor in the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, finished atop the field of 17 candidates with 21.5 percent of the vote, and said that if elected, she will move quickly to bolster the ranks of U.S. military veterans.

"Part of my story includes my service in the United States Army and in recent days, I have been deeply disturbed by revelations that our veterans are dying because of a broken system that denied them care," Carr said. "These brave men and woman are heroes and after they sacrificed so much, they deserve access to the best care possible."

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Following the vote, Lieu said his record as a State Senator makes him the right choice to fill the seat that's been held by Waxman since 1975.

"We need to fix our schools, to protect our kids in our communities, and bring jobs back to California instead of sending them out to other states and countries," he said.

Former LA City Controller Wendy Greuel, who lost to Eric Garcetti in last year's race for mayor, finished third with 16.8 percent of the vote, according to semi-official results released by the Secretary of State's Office. Lieu was second in Tuesday's election with 19 percent.

The 33rd Congressional District is one of the most affluent in the nation, including such areas as Santa Monica, Malibu, Bel Air, Beverly Hills and Palos Verdes.

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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