Gatto-Ramani prepare for runoff

To hear rival candidates Mike Gatto and Sunder Ramani tell it, the June runoff for a vacant Assembly seat will be a matchup of underdogs.

Each portrayed himself as an overachieving neophyte after leading Tuesday's special election in the 43rd District, representing parts of the east San Fernando Valley.

Gatto received 32.3 percent of the vote to thump fellow Democrats Nayiri Nahabedian (22.3 percent) and Chahe Keuroghelian (13.6 percent). Ramani got 31.8 percent as the only Republican on the ballot.