Placentia

Suit Claims Candidate Thwarted: Gary R. Arnold, self-proclaimed watchdog over municipal government in Placentia, filed a lawsuit Friday claiming that he was illegally prevented from filing for the office of city treasurer. Arnold claimed city officials questioned whether he is a resident of the city when he attempted to file nomination forms Aug. 9. Orange County Superior Court Commissioner Jane D. Myers set a hearing for Thursday. The lawsuit claimed that officials refused to accept the nomination papers because Arnold’s listed address, 242 S. Bradford Ave., is in a non-residential area. Arnold, with business interests in Placentia, has been a vocal critic of city government. Last year, he called for the suspension of several city officials after he claimed that they denied him access to city records.