Courtis Fuller, the 44-year-old Charter candidate who stepped out from behind a news anchor desk only three months ago to run for Cincinnati's mayor, finished first in Tuesday's historic primary election.

        Mayor Charlie Luken, the 50-year-old Democratic incumbent, ran second.

        Mr. Fuller and Mr. Luken will advance to the Nov. 6 general election, when voters will directly elect a mayor with considerably stronger powers.

        Two independent candidates, Bill Brodberger and Michael Riley, ran a distant third and fourth, meaning their campaigns are finished.

        With 303 of the city's 376 precincts reporting, Mr. Fuller had 12,256 (51%) votes to 9,956 (41%) for Mr. Luken.

        Mr. Brodberger received 1,1511 votes (6%) and Mr. Riley polled 490 votes (2%).

        Mr. Luken congratulated Mr. Fuller, a former colleague at WLWT-TV, for his strong showing. It was Mr. Fuller's first appearance on a ballot.

        Before all the votes were in, Mr. Fuller said only that he was “comfortable” with the results. But he said he wanted every vote counted before declaring victory.

        Mr. Luken — who, like his father, former Rep. Tom Luken, has always enjoyed broad political support — saw Tuesday's result was a wake-up call to his campaign.

        Turnout was running about 15 percent citywide. A low turnout was expected, considering the city has never had a September primary, and many voters expected that Mr. Luken and Mr. Fuller, the only party-endorsed candidates, would advance.

        Tuesday's terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, which had many voters at home watching television news, may also have contributed to the low turnout.

        Both candidates saw the primary race as an indication of their core support. Now, the battle will go to swing voters -- including many Republicans, whose party doesn't have a candidate in the race.

        Race relations have been front and center in the campaign, which has also produced debate on the city's economic development efforts and police-community relations.

        Some view Tuesday's results as a referendum on Mr. Luken's handling of the riots and protests in April following a police shooting of a fleeing black man.

        “I'm for Fuller,” said 60-year-old voter Leroy Steagall of Bond Hill. “I just think he'll be with me more so than anybody else. We've had nothing as black fellas. Everything we've had has been taken away.”

        Ruthanne Singleton, a 47-year-old Mount Washington voter, said she voted for Mr. Luken.

        “The riots in April weren't his responsibility, and he acted like any reasonable person would,” she said.

        Ms. Singleton, who is white, said it's time the city, which is 43 percent black, elect a black mayor — but not Mr. Fuller.

        “I think Mr. Fuller is well intentioned. He simply lacks experience,” she said.

        Tim Burke, co-chairman of the Hamilton COunty Democratic Party, watched the numbers come in early Tuesday evening and said he was "amazed” at the smallness of the turnout.

        “These are amazingly small numbers to be dealing with,” Mr. Burke said, as he tried to analyze numbers that showed Mr. Fuller with a lead over Mr. Luken.

        “But if these numbers hold, I think they are going to serve to energize both campaigns. It will be a great race.”

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