In the Los Angeles City Council District 9 race, Latina candidate Ana Cubas and state legislator Curren Price may grab the top two slots and head to the May runoff.

Cubas, the only woman in the field, is facing African American politicos Curren Price, Mike Davis, and David Roberts as well as Asian American and LAPD deputy chief Terry Hara.

With nearly 60 percent of the precincts reporting, Price is leading with 1,678 votes or 26.45 percent, Cubas has 1,552 votes or 24.46 percent, Davis has 1,001 votes or 15.77 percent, Hara has 762 votes or 12.01 percent, and Roberts has 687 votes or 10.82 percent.

Cubas is the underdog, with Price receiving major financial backing by labor unions.

Price, a current state senator, is the latest job-hopping legislator angling to win the far higher-paying $178,789 Los Angeles City Council job and creating what is being dubbed as “Sacramento South.”

Like Council District 13, CD 9 is a highly coveted City Council seat, which covers part of downtown Los Angeles. The council member will have tight connections to deep-pocketed downtown business interests, helping one's political future.

Current District 9 Councilwoman Jan Perry, who will be termed out, ran for mayor.

Along with the CD 13, the District 9 race is expected to be a nail-biter.

Contact Patrick Range McDonald at pmcdonald@laweekly.com.

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