Rockwell Drops Out of Race for Council Seat

Betty Rockwell, a Lake View Terrace homeowner, Friday dropped out of the race for the Los Angeles City Council’s northeast San Fernando Valley seat, narrowing to three the field of opponents to incumbent Howard Finn.

Rockwell said she has decided not to challenge a city attorney’s ruling invalidating her nomination petitions. “Just consider me out,” she said.

To qualify for the April 9 ballot, candidates were required to submit 1,000 signatures of voters or submit 500 signatures and pay $300 by last Saturday.

Rockwell paid the $300 but was told by election officials that her petitions--containing 600 signatures of voters--were improperly filled out.

The people who circulated the petitions were required to sign their names on the forms. In the case of Rockwell’s petitions, her supporters printed their names. By the time Rockwell brought the petitions to City Hall Saturday, it was too late for her to obtain the signatures.

Rockwell contended that she was told by a city clerk that she did not need the signatures. She said she could not recall the clerk’s name.

Although city officials told Rockwell she could challenge the city’s interpretation of the law in court, she said she decided not to pursue the matter. Even if she won in court, she probably would not have enough valid signatures to qualify, she said.

Disappointed for Supporters

City elections supervisor Joe Giles said that with all candidates, many signatures are thrown out because the signers do not live in the district, are not registered voters or have written someone else’s name. The clerk’s office checks the signatures against voter registration affidavits.

A past president of the Lake View Terrace Improvement Assn., Rockwell, 55, said she was “terribly disappointed” for her supporters, who circulated petitions in inclement weather.

Rockwell said she wanted to run against Finn because she was angry with what she alleged was his support of development in the rural foothill communities. She said she will throw her support to challenger Elton (Skip) Michael, a police officer.

Finn’s other opponents are Noel S. Horwin, past president of the Shadow Hills Property Owners Assn., and Louis Cichelli, a printer. Besides Lake View Terrace, the district includes Sylmar, Pacoima, Sun Valley and Sunland-Tujunga.