San Diego

A legal challenge over how the San Diego City Council will sign endorsements for November ballot proposals was put on hold Monday so that council members can have a chance to settle the matter among themselves when they meet next Tuesday.

The challenge was brought by Councilwoman Abbe Wolfsheimer, who is unhappy with her colleagues’ decision to sign “Mayor and City Council” to endorsements in five propositions facing voters this fall.

Wolfsheimer said the phrase misleads the voters because it implies unanimity in the council endorsement.

Of particular concern to Wolfsheimer was the council’s 5-3 decision to oppose an initiative aimed at repealing a city decision to rename Market Street for slain civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. Wolfsheimer was among the three dissenters in that decision.

She filed a writ with the Superior Court on Aug. 21, asking that the city clerk be forced to list the council vote on the Market Street initiative and four other ballot endorsements. The endorsements will be listed in sample ballots scheduled to be mailed in October to more than 500,000 registered San Diego voters.

Superior Court Judge Vincent P. Di Figlia agreed Monday to postpone a decision until the City Council has a chance to reconsider the matter next week, when council members reconvene after a three-week recess.

In the meantime, the city clerk’s office will not print any sample ballots until after Sept. 15, the date of the municipal primary election, Chief Deputy City Atty. Ted Bromfield said. That will allow Wolfsheimer to continue to press her legal action if council members vote against her request next Tuesday, he said.