Several UCLA Luskin School alumni were on ballots around the country this election year, and now that the results are in, some campaigns are celebrating.

As of Wednesday morning, Riverside Councilman William “Rusty” Bailey MPP '99 triumphed over opponent Ed Adkison, a businessman and former councilman, receiving support from almost 57 percent of voters. One of Bailey’s first statements following victory signified his determination to exceed expectations: “Mayor (Ron) Loveridge has set the bar very high when it comes to service to the city [and] I want to try to continue that.”

As part of his initial goals, Bailey first intends to select those to join his team who would ensure fulfillment of his promises and guarantee that residents’ interests be upheld. But for now, Bailey simply feels “validated in terms of all the work that [his team] put in over the last year.”

A more dramatic victory was that of longtime political aide and Democrat Raul Bocanegra over Richard Alarcón in the race for District 39 of the California State Assembly, an area that incorporates San Fernando and part of Los Angeles. A 1997 urban planning graduate, Bocanegra is no stranger to the region — he spent more than two decades as an active educator, community leader, legislative advocate and executive board member of non-profit organizations. In the campaign, Bocanegra emphasized his previous work as an aide to Los Angeles City Council President Alex Padilla, garnering 58.5 percent of the vote.

Michael Stajura, a 2005 public policy grad now working towards his Ph.D. was elected to serve on the 19-seat Westwood Neighborhood Council.

While Bailey and Bocagegra enjoyed solid victories, the Luskin School’s 2010 alumnus of the year, Manan M. Trivedi, was defeated in his pursuit to represent Pennsylvania in the sixth Congressional District.

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