Bernson Foe Fails to Qualify for Ballot
Chatsworth attorney Ronald E. Michelman has failed to collect enough valid voter signatures to qualify for the April 9 municipal ballot, city elections officials said Friday.
But a Michelman spokesman said he will continue campaigning against Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson as a write-in candidate.
City officials notified Michelman, 43, this week that he fell 67 signatures short of the 500 needed to get his name on the ballot, said assistant elections chief Joe Giles.
Michelman submitted a total of 605 signatures, but 172 were from people who were not registered to vote, did not live in Bernson’s 12th council district or whose names were illegible, Giles said.
Michelman spokesman Bob Frazier said despite the signature shortfall, Michelman has not suspended his campaign and intends to run as a write-in candidate.
To qualify as a write-in, Michelman must pay $300 or submit 500 to 1,000 new signatures before March 26, Giles said.
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