Candidate Short of Signatures
Former Los Angeles city Treasurer J. Paul Brownridge has failed to qualify as a candidate for city controller in the April 10 election, city election officials said.
Brownridge said Friday he will go to court to try to get on the ballot.
Unless he prevails in court, the controller’s race will, in effect, become a matchup between Councilwoman Laura Chick and businesswoman Laurette Healey, who is backed by Mayor Richard Riordan. Mervin Evans, an author of financial books and frequent candidate for various offices, also will be on the ballot.
Election officials notified Brownridge earlier in the week that he had fallen short of the required 500 signatures from city residents registered to vote, but that he had until 5 p.m. Friday to comb through the 789 signatures he had submitted by the Feb. 5 deadline.
Deputy City Clerk Kris Heffron said Friday afternoon that Brownridge was short 42 valid signatures and therefore was not included on the official list of candidates.
Heffron said the city is ready to print its ballots and voter information pamphlets and hopes any court challenge can be resolved quickly.
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