LOCAL : LaFollette Aide Wins Ballot Tiff

A Sacramento Superior Court judge ruled today that state Assembly candidate Robert G. Wilcox can describe himself as an “assembly member’s legislative representative” on the June ballot.

Wilcox’s ballot designation was disputed by an opponent, Paula Boland, who filed suit Thursday to force state election officials to reject the phrase as an overstatement of Wilcox’s credentials.

But Judge Michael J. Virga denied Boland’s request that he order the Secretary of State’s office to reject Wilcox’s ballot identification. Virga ruled that the description was not misleading.

Wilcox, a former field representative for retiring Assemblywoman Marian W. La Follette (R-Northridge), is on leave from his post as executive director of a La Follette task force on breaking up the Los Angeles Unified School District. Wilcox and Boland are seeking the Republican nomination for La Follette’s seat in the June 5 primary.

Boland contended in court documents that Wilcox’s ballot description “falsely creates the impression that Mr. Wilcox has a higher, more responsible position than his actual status” and implies that he “has some form of incumbency status.” The judge was not persuaded.

Wilcox has maintained that the description accurately characterizes his past duties for La Follette. He chose the identification after abandoning an earlier phrase, “Assembly executive director,” which state officials last month challenged him to substantiate.