Voters in Iwakuni have 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.

Yoshihiko Fukuda KYODO PHOTO

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 contest that was closely watched in Tokyo and Washington.

According to final official returns on the Feb. 10 election, Fukuda received 47,081 votes to Ihara's 45,299.

At issue was whether voters accept transferring U.S. aircraft from a naval air station in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture, to the U.S. Marine base in Iwakuni.

Reflecting interest in the issue, voter turnout was 76.26 percent, up 11.17 percent from the previous election.

Under a 2006 bilateral agreement, the U.S. base at Iwakuni will host an additional 57 carrier-based aircraft currently at Atsugi Naval Air Station, and about 12 KC-130 midair refueling aircraft currently based at Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.

The relocation is supposed to be completed by 2014 but is contingent upon expanding the base at Iwakuni and building additional facilities.

The Iwakuni election was considered a political test for the ruling coalition and opposition parties, and a key indicator of whether base realignment as a whole will move forward.

While Ihara based his campaign on opposing the plan, Fukuda emphasized the need for fiscal reform, and told voters only he can negotiate with Tokyo for subsidies that will come with hosting the additional U.S. troops and their families.