Zink Political newcomer Todd Zink scored a narrow 1 percent victory over local Democratic stalwart Fran Pavley in Tuesday’s primary election for the state 27th Senate District.

Only 105,300 voters cast ballots. Zink, a Republican, received 53,236 votes, or 50.6 percent, and Pavley got 52,062, or 49.4 percent.

“It’s refreshing. It’s time to start correcting Sacramento,” said Zink, a Westlake Village resident who is a district attorney in Los Angeles County and a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps Reserves.

Pavley, the Agoura Hills resident who rose from school teacher and town mayor to become a leader in the state Democratic party, attributed her weakness at the polls to the recordl ow voter turnout.

Only 20 percent of registered voters in the newly drawn 27th District comprising Los Angeles and Ventura counties participated in the June 5 election. Pavley, an incumbent senator from the 23rd District, won by 10 percent in L.A. County but lost by 20 percent in Ventura County. About 60 percent of the newly formed 27th District lies within Los Angeles County.

Pavley The district includes Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Calabasas, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and Simi Valley.

Zink said the results prove people want change. The Legislature must create balanced policies to retain jobs and businesses in California, and he said existing regulations are “strangling” business.

“As a result we don’t have job creation. It affects a lot of other areas of governance,” Zink said. “Looking at my background and my experience, I’m well suited to take on some of these problems in Sacramento.”

Looking ahead to a rematch with Zink in the November general election, Pavley said the number one concern of business owners in California is education.

“They want the state to invest in schools because what they really need is an educated workforce,” she said.

Pavley said party politics aside, the constituents in the 27th District share the same priorities. They want good schools, safe communities and a strong economy, she said. They also value open spaces.

“Those basic qualities of life issues, which I’ve worked on for 30 years, resonate with voters throughout the district. Democrats and Republicans all moved out here for the same reasons,” Pavley said.

Neither candidate invested much time or money in the primary, hoping to keep their powder dry for the November contest.

Pavley said she will concentrate her efforts this summer and fall in Ventura County where voters know her the least, starting with a meet-and-greet event in Thousand on Sun. June 10 at the office of prominent local businessman Larry Janss. Zink plans to host town hall meetings.

“I want to get out there in front of voters, explain to them why I’m running and the main issues so they understand how my experience will be able to take on these problems come November,” said Zink, who returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan earlier this year.

Pavley and Zink were the only two candidates in the race.

•In the 33rd U.S. Congressional District race including Calabasas and Agoura Hills, longtime Democratic incumbent Rep. Henry Waxman won 45.5 percent of the votes while Bill Bloomfield, a Manhattan Beach resident and small-business owner with no party affiliation, took 24 percent. Christopher David, the only Republican, received 15 percent.

•In the 45th State Assembly race, which includes Calabasas and the West Valley, current Democratic Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield won 59 percent of the vote and scored a 19-point win over Republican Chris Kolski, of West Hills.