Schroeder's Lawsuit Against Cook is Moving Forward
Posted by: Tomahawk | 03/21/2008 11:40 PM
Earlier in the day, Total Buzz reported that Orange County Superior Court Judge Gregory Lewis ruled Mike Schroeder can take a deposition from Debbie Cook (pictured left) on Monday. From the reporting, it looks like Cook has brought in Democratic attorney Fred Woodcher to lead her legal defense. You may remember that this is the same Woodcher who represented Gerald Feather during the Recount for the 1st Supervisorial Special Election last year.I am seriously questioning why the Orange County Registrar of Voters allowed Debbie Cook to use "Mayor" in her ballot designation while prohibiting the current Buena Park Mayor to use the that very same title for the Republican Central Committee, 56th District. If I recall correctly, Mayor Jim Dow was told by an an employee that he cannot use "Mayor, City of Buena Park" as his ballot designation because that is not a directly elected position.
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CD46 Watch, Politics Behind the Orange Curtain
Mr. Ayer registered as a Republican to be electable in an interim election with no incumbents. He did...
Sorry, Tomahawk, but the Secretary of State's office already approved Debbie Cook's ballot designation. But thanks for playing!
Tomahawk:
The person who posted at 7:37 AM is a little snide, but nevertheless, correct. For State & Federal races, the Secretary of State is in charge...not the County Registrar of Voters.
For local races (such as Central Committee, etc.) the Registrar gets to decide.
The Secretary of State has been very consistant in allowing "Mayor" or "Vice Mayor" over the years.
The Trial Court was wrong in even hearing this matter. It should have transferred the case to Sacramento which has jurisdiciton over ALL matters dealing with the Secretary of State.
Woocher will win in the Court of Appeal. There will be no deposition on Monday.
So why does the Secretary of State and OC Registrar of Voters have different guidelines when it comes to ballot title?
Shouldn't they be following the same one?
So why does the Secretary of State and OC Registrar of Voters have different guidelines when it comes to ballot title?
Shouldn't they be following the same one?
More than likely to prevent the shennanigans that goes on at the local level.
Just a guess.
Tomahawk - the other posters are absolutely right. The statewide guidelines often differ from the local guidelines for good reason. The Registrar is doing the right thing and this is being decided where it should, in the courts.
I hate to nit-pick but the Orange County Registrar is not doing anything.
For State & Federal races, the Registrar merely accepts the completed paperwork from the candidate, verifies the local signatures and transmits everything to the Secretary of State. It is the Secretary of State who determines whether or not to accept a ballot designation for a State or Federal candidate.
When the Secretary of State publishes the "Certified List of Candidates", the local Registrars then take that information to print the ballots. That's why this lawsuit, filed in OC and not naming the Secretary of State as a defendant, is destined to go nowhere.
Watch Fred Woocher roll over Schroeder in the Court of Appeal on Monday. Then watch the lawsuit be dismissed and watch Woocher file a cost bill for attorneys fees in the $50,000 range.
I hope that someone with deep pockets has agreed to indemnify Keith Carlson, because Mr. Carlson is the one who will have to pay Woocher.
Why does no one remember that 1/4 of the district (and 1/3 of the voters) are in LA County.
Why does no one remember that 1/4 of the district (and 1/3 of the voters) are in LA County?
Palos Verdes to be precise. And they ain't voting for Debbie Cook I'll tell you that much.
Did you know she got married in Palos Verdes?