Judge to Review Council District-Election Issue

A Superior Court judge has scheduled a hearing for Nov. 15 on a request to revive a City Council district-election initiative that was rejected by Glendale officials last summer.

The Coalition for Election Reform on Nov. 1 asked Judge John R. Zebrowski to put the initiative on the April 2 municipal ballot or to allow another 26 days to gather more signatures.

The judge said he would review legal briefs from the city and the coalition, then hear oral arguments from the attorneys at next week’s hearing.

If the measure is placed on the ballot and is approved by voters, the initiative will split Glendale into five districts. Coalition leaders say this would bring political power to parts of the city that are being neglected.

In July, city officials ruled that the coalition did not gather enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. Coalition members are trying to overturn that decision in court. They argue that they erred because city officials gave them incorrect information about signature requirements and the filing deadline.