UPDATE MARCH 28: A Nevada state university regent who has also served as a city planning commissioner has been elected to the Las Vegas City Council.
Cedric Crear was the top vote-getter among 11 candidates in Tuesday's special election to fill a Ward 5 vacancy.
Clark County election officials report that Crear won with 627 votes, or 27 percent of the 2,300 votes cast.
He's due to be sworn in April 18 to a 15-month term on the seven-member council.
ORIGINAL STORY
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Voters in one Las Vegas City Council district are picking a new representative from a field of 11 candidates.
Ballots are being cast Tuesday in Ward 5 to fill the vacancy left when three-term councilman Ricki Barlow resigned Jan. 22.
Barlow pleaded guilty Feb. 26 to a federal wire fraud charge in a campaign funds kickback scheme. He is due for sentencing next month.
The special election winner will be sworn in April 18 to serve 15 months on the seven-member council.
The Clark County Election Department reports nearly 39,000 registered voters in the district, which includes part of downtown and the Fremont Street Experience and the historic West Las Vegas neighborhood.
Turnout is usually low in municipal elections. Officials say just 849 people cast ballots during two days of early voting last week.
