Charter Might Not Be On June Ballot

IN A DITCH
On its mad dash to get Jim Righeimer's Charter placed on the June ballot the City's efforts ran off the road last week and it MIGHT result in the Charter NOT getting a place on the ballot - at least, not in June. It remains to be seen if that jalopy can be dragged back onto the pavement and get started again.


OOPS...
Due to what amounts to a clerical error in the City Clerk's office, part of the package of information required to be submitted to Neal Kelley, Orange County Registrar of Voters, didn't make it to his offices on time. My understanding is that there was some confusion about specific deadlines.

TELL IT TO THE JUDGE
This morning I spoke with Kelly, who confirmed that the window to get the Charter on the ballot had been missed, but that further information would have to come from The City. He indicated that someone - a judge - would have to instruct him to place it on the ballot now. He also confirmed that he, by law, must follow the time line requirements.


IT'S STILL POSSIBLE, BUT...
As I hit the "publish" button on this entry City staff and attorneys are scrambling to determine the best course of action. It is my understanding that it is still possible to get the Charter on the ballot, but - as Kelley told me earlier today - it's going to take a judge to intervene on behalf of the City to make it happen. According to Communications Director Bill Lobdell this afternoon, the City will file papers in Orange County Superior Court tomorrow, Wednesday, March 14th, requesting that the City not be precluded from placing the Charter on the ballot because of a clerical error.

'' SLOW DOWN"....
For those who believe in a supreme being, maybe this is his or her way of telling proponents of Jim Righeimer's Charter scheme to slow down and do this right. Or not...