IWAKUNI, Yamaguchi Pref. — Voters here Sunday put hopes for economic revitalization ahead of concerns about a U.S. military base by electing Yoshihiko Fukuda, a former Liberal Democratic Party member of the Lower House, as mayor.
Fukuda, 37, who ran with no party affiliation but had strong backing from the ruling coalition, narrowly defeated former Mayor Katsusuke Ihara, 57, in a tight contest that was closely watched in Tokyo and Washington.
At issue was whether voters accept transferring U.S. aircraft from the naval air station in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture, to the U.S. Marines base in Iwakuni.
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