Former Stockton City Councilmember Ralph Lee White has filed a lawsuit against the City of Stockton and the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters, alleging that issues with verifying signatures on his nomination paperwork led to his initial disqualification from the March primary ballot. White claims that this error cost him votes in his bid to reclaim his old council seat, a race he ultimately lost.
White, a veteran of Stockton politics who served on the City Council from 1971 to 1984, alleges in the lawsuit that he submitted his nomination forms and required signatures in late November 2023. However, he was informed less than an hour before the filing deadline that three of the signatures were invalid. Despite returning with additional signatures before the 5 p.m. cutoff, White claims that he was told the city’s computers would not process them in time, rendering him ineligible for the ballot.
"I’ve never had that done to me in my life, and I don’t think anybody else should ever have to go through that," White said, expressing frustration with the process. He also alleges that other candidates who filed after him had their paperwork processed ahead of his.
White eventually sued for ballot access in December and was reinstated to the primary ballot. Despite this, he finished fifth in the race, receiving a total of 353 votes. White argues that the initial disqualification negatively impacted his campaign, claiming it "broke the spirit" of his supporters.
In addition to the city and county, the lawsuit names Registrar of Voters Olivia Hale and former Stockton City Clerk Eliza Garza as defendants. White has not specified the amount of damages he is seeking but indicated that he is pursuing significant restitution.
This lawsuit marks another legal battle for White, who last year was awarded $750,000 from the city over a 2008 land deal. The city has confirmed that it has been served notice of White’s election lawsuit, while the county has declined to comment on pending litigation. A hearing for the case is scheduled for January 2025.
