A limited recount in the April 10 election for Whittier’s City Council has left incumbent Fernando Dutra in the lead over his challenger Lizette Escobedo. But Escobedo’s supporters aren’t giving up the fight and are now vowing to challenge the issue in court.
The Whittier Daily News reports that attorney Miguel Garcia, “plans to take the issue to court, saying Dutra’s 53-vote margin is less than the 55 ballots he challenged.” He has 19 days to file suit.
“Garcia believes the ballot confused voters, especially because Escobedo’s name appeared just above the write-in area, which was not marked as such. Many voters who wanted Escobedo checked the write-in box instead, he contended, and those votes didn’t count because there were no write-in candidates this election.”
A photo of the ballot is available here. City Clerk Lisa Pope has said it follows all of the Secretary of State’s guidelines.