Minuteman Chief’s Ballot Label May Be Blank

If American Independent Party congressional candidate and anti-illegal immigration activist Jim Gilchrist can’t be listed as director of the Minuteman project on next month’s special election ballot, the space next to his name will be left blank, his campaign manager said Friday.

“We made the determination some time ago that the law says you cannot deceive the voter,” campaign manager Howie Morgan said in response to a Sacramento judge’s decision upholding a state directive prohibiting the designation on the Oct. 4 ballot.

“To characterize Mr. Gilchrist as anything other than a Minuteman obviously [is] a deception to the people of Orange County,” Morgan said.

He said that despite the county registrar’s plans to take the ballot to the printer Tuesday, Gilchrist and his legal team would decide this weekend whether to appeal the ruling.

Gilchrist, of Aliso Viejo, gained national attention in recent months by organizing the Minuteman project, in which citizens patrolled the U.S.-Mexico border to help prevent illegal immigration. Later, he declared his candidacy for the 48th Congressional District seat recently vacated by former Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach).

Last month, however, the California secretary of state’s office ruled that Gilchrist could not list himself on the ballot as director of the Minutemen. Gilchrist appealed to the Sacramento County Superior Court, but Judge Judy Holzer Hersher upheld the decision.

Neal Kelley, Orange County’s acting registrar of voters, expressed relief on Friday that the issue apparently had been decided.