Contender for Malibu Seat Leaves Hospital

John J. Merrick, a contender for a seat on Malibu’s future City Council who suffered a mild stroke last Friday, was reported in good condition Monday after his release from Santa Monica Hospital.

Merrick, 71, a retired Municipal Court judge, was resting comfortably at home after his release from the hospital, his wife, Marge, said.

Merrick was said to be trailing slow-growth activist Missy Zeitsoff by a single vote Monday, with an unknown number of absentee and write-in ballots from last week’s election yet to be counted.