LOS ANGELES — Robert Luna, a little-known retired police chief from Long Beach, will be the next sheriff of Los Angeles County after soundly beating the incumbent, Alex Villanueva, who leaves office in the wake of a single term marred by the upheaval and discord he sowed.
With Luna holding a commanding 20% lead and the number of ballots yet to be counted shrinking by the day, Villanueva conceded the race Tuesday.
“I want to wish the incoming sheriff well,” Villanueva said at the end of a rambling concession speech. “The safety of the community depends on him succeeding.”
