In a recent turn of events, San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Jayne Lee ruled on Wednesday to reinstate two candidates who had initially been disqualified from running for Stockton City Council. The candidates in question are former Councilman Ralph Lee White in District 6 and health worker Mariela Ponce in District 2.
Former Councilman White, aged 80, expressed determination after the court's decision, stating, "Now, I work like hell to win." White, who served on the city council for an impressive 16 years (1971-87), emphasized that his commitment to the campaign goes beyond mere participation, as he competes in the March 5 primaries.
Judge Lee's decision not only reinstates White and Ponce but also awards White attorney fees, the exact amount of which is yet to be determined. White will be contending against incumbent Kimberly Warmsley, businessman Jason Lee, Zoyla Moreno, Satnam Singh, and Ronnie Murray in the primary for the 6th District, covering a significant portion of South Stockton.
Both White and Ponce pursued legal action against the City of Stockton and San Joaquin County to secure their positions on the ballot. White's legal challenge arose after being informed that he lacked enough valid signatures to qualify. According to the Stockton City Charter, candidates must secure signatures from at least ten but no more than twenty-five individuals.
White filed his paperwork, including 10 signatures, in late November, well ahead of the December 8 deadline. However, he alleged that he was notified 25 minutes before the deadline on December 8 that three of his signatures were deemed invalid.
County Registrar of Voters Olivia Hale confirmed on Friday that the county would not contest White's legal challenge.
City Clerk Eliza Garza clarified Ponce's disqualification, stating, “Ponce was initially disqualified because her district verification came back with the status of ‘Not Registered Voter,’ which later was determined to be inaccurate.”
Ponce, a health worker, will now resume her candidacy for the midtown District 2 seat, competing against Pamela Pettis-Houston, Waqar Rizvi, and former mayor Anthony Silva.
This legal saga adds a layer of complexity to the upcoming city council primaries, highlighting the intricacies of candidacy procedures and the resilience of candidates in the face of challenges.
Report based on Stocktonia's original article.
