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106 Cal. App. 4th 1153 (2003)
Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 1, California.
Omar BRADLEY, Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
Eric J. PERRODIN, Defendant and Appellant;
Melanie Andrews, Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
Leslie Irving, Defendant and Appellant.
No. B156528.
March 10, 2003.
Rehearing Denied March 27, 2003.
Review Denied June 11, 2003.
Strumwasser & Woocher, Fredric D. Woocher, Michael J. Strumwasser,
Santa Monica, Daniel J. Sharfstein and Lea Rappaport Geller for Defendant
and Appellant Eric J. Perrodin.
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges, Warrington S. Parker III and
Lee J. Papageorge, Redwood Shores, for Defendant and Appellant Leslie Irving.
Reed & Davidson, Dana W. Reed and Bradley W. Hertz; Milton Grimes,
Newport Beach, for Plaintiff and Respondent Omar Bradley.
Law Office of Gilbert Gaynor and Gilbert Gaynor, Los Angeles, for Plaintiff
and Respondent Melanie Andrews.
ORTEGA, J.
The hotly contested 2001 Compton municipal election resulted in two election
contests challenging the results of the runoff election in the mayoral
and city council races. The trial court granted both election contests,
removing the winners from office and replacing them with their opponents.
Finding the runoff ballot had listed the candidates' names in both
races in the wrong alphabetical order, the trial court concluded that
switching the name-order would have changed the outcome of both races
due to the advantage the top-ballot placement affords over lower-ballot
placements. The trial court also granted the contest against the city
council winner on the ground that she had committed offenses against the
electorate.
With regard to the mayoral election, we reverse the judgment and reinstate
the winning candidate as mayor. In the city council race, we affirm the
portion of the judgment annulling the winning candidate's election
for having committed offenses against the elective franchise. We reverse
the portion of the judgment for the challenger based on name-order error.
BACKGROUND
The court held a consolidated trial of election contests brought by respondent
Omar Bradley against appellant Eric Perrodin for the Compton Mayor's
office and by respondent Melanie Andrews against appellant Leslie Irving
for a Compton City Council position. For the sake of convenience, we will
discuss the contests separately although they involved overlapping issues
and evidence.
A. The Compton Mayoral Election (Perrodin's Appeal)
Nine candidates, including Perrodin and Bradley, vied for mayor in Compton's
primary election of April 2001. Compton City Clerk Charles Davis, the
local elections official, listed the nine mayoral candidates on the primary
ballot according to a randomized alphabet obtained from the Secretary
of State. (See Elec. Code, ß ß 13112, 13113.) [FN1] Pursuant
to that randomized alphabet, Perrodin's name was listed above Bradley's
on the primary ballot. There is no allegation that Davis erred in preparing
the primary ballot.
FN1. Unless otherwise indicated, all further statutory references are to
the Elections Code.
The primary election failed to yield a majority of votes for any single
candidate. Bradley, the incumbent mayor, finished first with 4,312 votes;
Perrodin, a deputy district attorney and former police officer, came in
second with 1,983 votes.
Davis prepared a ballot for the June 5, 2001, runoff election between Bradley
and Perrodin, using the same randomized alphabet as in the primary election.
Accordingly, the runoff ballot listed Perrodin's name above Bradley's.
On June 5, 2001, Perrodin won the mayoral runoff election with 5,472 votes
to Bradley's 5,191 votes.
After the June runoff election, Bradley filed an election contest against
Perrodin, with the following allegations: (1) Perrodin and others prepared
fraudulent or counterfeit ballots for the runoff election; (2) Davis erred
in failing to use the appropriate randomized alphabet for the June election
that would have placed Bradley's name before Perrodin's on the
runoff ballot; (3) Perrodin committed offenses against the elective franchise
(ß ß 16100, subd. (c), 18000 et seq.); (4) precinct board
members committed malconduct (ß 16100, subd. (a)); and (5) illegal
votes were cast (ß 16100, subd. (d)).
A lengthy court trial was held with 85 witnesses testifying over the course
of several months. Of Bradley's numerous allegations, the trial court
upheld only one, finding that Davis' failure to place Bradley's
name above Perrodin's on the runoff ballot constituted grounds to
void Perrodin's election and declare Bradley the new mayor. The trial
court reasoned as follows: (1) the Elections Code required Davis to request
a new randomized alphabet from the Secretary of State for the June runoff
election; (2) had Davis made such a request, the Secretary of State would
have provided the same randomized alphabet that had been drawn on March
12, 2001, for the Kern County special election; (3) the randomized draw
for the Kern County election would have required Davis to place Bradley's
name above Perrodin's on the runoff ballot; and (4) due to the advantage
that a top ballot position affords a candidate over lower-placed candidates
(the so-called primacy effect), Perrodin received at least 306 votes that
would have gone to Bradley had Bradley's name been listed first. [FN2]
Based on the primacy effect theory, the trial court shifted 306 votes
from Perrodin to Bradley and declared Bradley the victor. The court rejected
Perrodin's contention that Bradley's sole remedy to correct any
name-order error on the ballot was to file a pre-election writ petition.
(ß 13314.)
FN2. The trial court based its 306-vote primacy effect finding on the expert
testimony of Ohio State University Political Science Professor Jon Krosnick.
Krosnick testified that based on his analysis of a 1992 election in Ohio,
candidates listed first on a ballot receive on average 3.32% more votes
over lower-placed candidates. No direct evidence was presented at trial,
however, that any particular voters in the Compton election were misled
or confused by the placement of the names on the ballot and would have
voted for Bradley had Bradley's name been listed above Perrodin's.
The trial court rejected Bradley's remaining grounds for contesting
the election. The court found: (1) no evidence of counterfeit or fraudulent
ballots; (2) insufficient evidence that Perrodin committed offenses against
the franchise; [FN3] (3) the precinct board did not commit malconduct
and any procedural errors and irregularities were not the board's
fault and did not affect the outcome of the election; (4) 144 illegal
votes were cast, but it was impossible to determine (except for nine illegal
votes that had been cast for the Perrodin slate) [FN4] for whom the illegal
votes were cast; and (5) while Davis was careless in failing to follow
proper election procedures, he did not willfully neglect or refuse to
perform his duties.
FN3. Among the grounds rejected by the trial court was that Perrodin had
violated section 18540 (compelling another to vote or not vote through
force, violence, coercion or intimidation) by displaying a firearm to
campaigning firefighters. On January 28, 2003, Bradley moved to remand
the matter to the trial court to take additional evidence as to whether
Perrodin had falsely testified to possessing a valid concealed weapon
permit. On the same date, Bradley filed a supplemental request for judicial
notice regarding the concealed weapon permit issue. On February 13, 2003,
we denied both requests.
FN4. Perrodin ran together as a slate with two city council candidates,
Leslie Irving and Yvonne Arceneaux, and a candidate for treasurer, Douglas
Sanders. The nine illegal votes for the Perrodin slate were cast by non-citizens
who were found to have been illegally registered to vote by Irving or
Irving's agents in violation of sections 18100, 18371, 18500, 18501,
and 18561.
Based solely on the primacy effect resulting from the order in which the
two candidates' names were placed on the ballot, the trial court annulled
Perrodin's certificate of election and ordered that a new certificate
of election be issued to Bradley. The court entered judgment against Perrodin
and declared Bradley to be mayor.
Bradley was sworn in as mayor on February 11, 2002. Thereafter, Perrodin
appealed from the judgment and petitioned for a writ of supersedeas and
immediate stay. We issued the writ and stay after requesting opposition
and hearing oral argument. (Bradley v. Perrodin (Feb. 26, 2002, B156528).)
On February 28, 2002, the California Supreme Court denied Bradley's
application for stay and petition for review. (Bradley v. Perrodin (Feb.
28, 2002, S104699).) The judgment in favor of Bradley having been stayed
pending resolution of Perrodin's appeal, Perrodin has been serving
as mayor while this appeal was pending.
B. The Compton City Council Election (Irving's Appeal)
Appellant Irving and respondent Andrews were the top candidates in one
of two city council races in the April 2001 primary election. (The other
council race, won by Yvonne Arceneaux in a runoff election against Frank
K. Wheaton, is not at issue in this appeal.) In the June 5, 2001, runoff
election, Irving defeated Andrews by a vote of 5,414 to 4,863.
Andrews then filed the present election contest against Irving, contending
that Davis had erred by placing Irving's name above Andrews' on
the runoff ballot. Andrews' position differed from Bradley's on
this point in one significant respect. Unlike Bradley, Andrews contended
that under either randomized alphabet at issue in this case--the one drawn
for the primary election or the one drawn for the Kern County election--Andrews'
name should have been first on the runoff ballot. In other words, under
both randomized draws, "A" was to come before "I,"
so Andrews should have been listed before Irving no matter which draw
was to be used.
Davis conceded below that Andrews' name should have been listed first
under either of the two randomized alphabets at issue in this case. Davis
stated, and the trial court agreed, that Irving's name was mistakenly
placed before Andrews' due to Davis' unintentional error. The
finding that Davis' error was unintentional is not disputed in this appeal.
Andrews also contended below that Irving had committed offenses against
the elective franchise by soliciting (either personally or through her
agents) nine non-citizens to register to vote, and by illegally influencing
or instructing the nine non-citizens to vote for Irving.
The trial court, after rejecting Irving's argument that the ballot
name-order error should have been addressed in a pre-election writ proceeding
(ß 13314), found the error sufficient to overturn Irving's election.
The court shifted 295 votes from Irving to Andrews based, as in the mayoral
election contest, on the primacy effect theory, [FN5] and declared Andrews
the winner.
FN5. Again, the trial court based its primacy effect finding solely on
Krosnick's expert testimony that on average, those listed first on
a ballot receive 3.32% more votes. There was no direct evidence from any
voter regarding the effect of the name-order error on the voter's
selection of a candidate.
In addition, the trial court found Irving had committed offenses against
the elective franchise, either personally or through her agents, by: (1)
knowingly soliciting nine non-citizens to register for absentee ballots
in violation of section 18100, subdivision (a); (2) being present in the
nine absentee voters' homes while they were voting and telling them
how to vote, in violation of section 18371, subdivision (a); (3) fraudulently
registering the nine non-citizens and assisting them to vote or completing
their absentee ballots for them, in violation of section 18500; and (4)
soliciting illegal votes from the nine nonqualified voters, in violation
of section 18561. The trial court also declared Irving, having committed
offenses against the electorate while holding public office, was barred
under the disqualification provisions of section 18501, from ever holding
office in California. [FN6]
FN6. Irving was a member of the Compton Community College District Board
at the time of her election to city council. Section 18501 provides: "Any
public official who knowingly violates any of the provisions of this chapter,
and thereby aids in any way the illegal casting or attempting to cast
a vote, or who connives to nullify any of the provisions of this chapter
in order that fraud may be perpetrated, shall forever be disqualified
from holding office in this state and upon conviction shall be sentenced
to a state prison for 16 months or two or three years."
Irving appealed from the adverse judgment and petitioned for a writ of
supersedeas. We denied the petition on March 7, 2002. (Wheaton et al.
v. Arceneaux et al. (Mar. 7, 2002, B156528).) Accordingly, Andrews has
been serving on the city council while this appeal was pending.
DISCUSSION
I
THE BRADLEY-PERRODIN ELECTION
Section 13112 requires the Secretary of State to conduct randomized alphabet
draws for five major election dates, including the first Tuesday after
the first Monday in June of odd-numbered years (ß 13112, subd. (b)(1)(D)).
Bradley contends that because the Compton June 5, 2001, election fell
on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June of an odd-numbered
year, Davis erred in failing to request the randomized alphabet drawn
for that date by the Secretary of State under section 13112, subdivision
(b) (1)(D). [FN7]
FN7. Evidence was presented below that no drawing was held by the Secretary
of State under section 13112, subdivision (b)(1)(D) in 2001 because there
was no county holding an election on June 5, 2001. Perrodin contends the
absence of a draw under subdivision (b)(1)(D) supports his position that
Davis properly used the same draw for the primary and runoff elections.
Bradley, on the other hand, contends that, had Davis requested a randomized
draw for the runoff election, the Secretary of State would have provided
the randomized alphabet drawn for the Kern County special election. Given
our determination that no new draw was required, we need not decide whether
the Kern County draw would have been provided had a request been made.
Perrodin contends a runoff election in a charter city like Compton is not
a separate election for which a new randomized alphabet is required under
the Elections Code. Under sections 13112, subdivision (b)(2) and 13113,
a charter city may request a new randomized alphabet when the "last
possible day to file nomination papers for the local election would occur
after the date of the drawing for" one of the five major election
dates. (ß 13112, subd. (b)(2).) Perrodin claims that because the
June 5 election was a runoff election, for which there was no "last
possible date for filing" (ß 13113, subd. (a)), the same randomized
alphabet was properly used in both primary and runoff elections. Perrodin
further relies upon a 1983 letter, in which the Secretary of State informed
the City of Compton that the same randomized alphabet was to be used for
its primary and general elections. [FN8] (See Andal v. Miller (1994) 28
Cal.App.4th 358, 364, fn. 3, 34 Cal.Rptr.2d 88 [The contemporaneous construction
of a statute by the administrative agency charged with its enforcement
is entitled to great weight.].)
FN8. Bradley contends that when the Secretary of State's 1983 letter
was written, the June election date was not one of the established election
dates listed in section 13112's predecessor statutes. According to
Bradley, the subsequent addition of the June election date to section
13112 invalidated the Secretary of State's 1983 letter as authority
for the position that the same randomized alphabet was properly used for
the April primary and June runoff elections.
Perrodin disagrees with Bradley's statutory analysis and requests
that we take judicial notice of section 13112's predecessor statutes
(former ß ß 2500, 1000), which included the June election
date as an established election date. Perrodin states that "[i]n
1983, the 'established election dates' under section 1000's
predecessor, section 2500, included 'the first Tuesday after the first
Monday in June of each year.' (West's Ann. Cal. Elec.Code, ß
2500(3) (1977 & Supp.1987) (emphasis added).... As the 1999 legislation
reinstating June elections in odd-numbered years to section 1000 explains,
those elections had inadvertently been deleted as 'established election
dates' in 1998 when the Legislature moved the statewide primary date
from June to March in each even-numbered year; all that the 1999 legislation
did was to 'restore [ ] the first Tuesday after the first Monday in
June as a regular election date of each odd-numbered year.' (Stats.1999,
ch. 6 (A.B.22) (emphasis added)...."
Given our determination that sections 13112 and 13113 do not require new
randomized alphabets for the second round of voting in a single election,
whether the June election date was an established election date in 1983
is a moot point, as is Perrodin's request for judicial notice of former
sections 2500 and 1000.
Perrodin also notes that like Compton, the cities of Los Angeles, Long
Beach, Burbank, Inglewood, Redondo Beach, and Pasadena all use the same
randomized alphabet in both primary and general elections. In addition,
Perrodin points out that section 13112, subdivision (d) requires use of
the same randomized alphabet in both primary and special elections for
state assembly, state senate, and congressional representative.
We granted Perrodin's request to take judicial notice of a March 19,
2002, letter from the Secretary of State's Elections Counsel Stephen
N. Trout, advising the City of Long Beach to use the same randomized alphabet
for both the Long Beach April 2002 primary election and the Long Beach
June 2002 general election. Trout's letter explained that the same
draw could be used on both ballots because "no candidates other than
those qualified to appear on the ballot in the Primary Nominating Election
will be qualified for the General Municipal Election."
A runoff election, as Perrodin correctly points out, is merely the second
round of voting in a single election. (Edelstein v. City and County of
San Francisco (2002) 29 Cal.4th 164, 174, 126 Cal.Rptr.2d 727, 56 P.3d
1029.) If one of the candidates receives a majority of the votes cast
in the primary election, there is no need for a runoff election. Where
no majority is achieved in the primary election, only those candidates
who qualify in the primary election may participate in the runoff election.
There is no new filing period for a runoff election.
We agree with Perrodin that nothing in sections 13112 and 13113 required
the Compton clerk to request a new randomized alphabet for the June 5
runoff election, which was simply a continuation of the April primary
election. Under section 13112, subdivision (b)(1)(D), a random drawing
for a June 5 election must be conducted 82 days earlier, on March 15.
On this record, however, it was uncertain on March 15 whether a June 5
runoff election would even be necessary and, if so, between which candidates.
We see nothing in section 13112 or 13113 that would require the clerk
to ask the Secretary of State to conduct a March 15 drawing for a June
5 runoff election that may or may not occur depending on the outcome of
an April primary election.
As we understand the statutory scheme, a new randomized alphabet is not
required for a runoff election with no new filing period or new candidates.
As there was no new filing period for Compton's June 5 runoff election,
and only the top two contestants in the primary election were eligible
to participate in the mayoral runoff election, we find the clerk had no
statutory obligation to request a new randomized alphabet for the June
5 election. The statutory requirements for requesting randomized alphabets
simply do not fit the circumstances of this case. Section 13112, subdivision
(b)(2) states that when a charter city schedules an election on one of
the five major election dates, "and the last possible day to file
nomination papers for the local election would occur after the date of
the drawing for the major election date, the procedure set forth in Section
13113 shall apply." Under section 13113, the charter city must notify
the Secretary of State of the local election date and the last possible
date to file for that election. Section 13113 requires the Secretary of
State to then conduct a randomized drawing on the first weekday following
the last possible date of filing. As it was impossible to file nomination
papers for the Compton June 5 runoff election, we find the procedures
of sections 13112 and 13113 inapplicable to the June 5 runoff election.
Given our determination that the statutory scheme does not prohibit use
of the same randomized alphabet for both the primary and runoff rounds
of voting in a single election, we conclude Perrodin's name was properly
listed before Bradley's on the runoff ballot. As no factual basis
(name-order error) exists to support Bradley's equal protection violation
claim [FN9] or the trial court's shifting of votes from Perrodin to
Bradley under the primacy effect theory, those issues need not be addressed
in relation to Bradley's appeal. We note, however, that as discussed
below in part III regarding the judgment for Andrews, even if Bradley's
and Perrodin's names were erroneously reversed on the runoff ballot,
the primacy effect theory would not justify shifting 306 votes from Perrodin
to Bradley.
FN9. If Bradley is asserting that the use of the same randomized alphabet
for the primary and runoff ballots constituted an equal protection violation,
independent of any statutory violation, we also reject his claim. Bradley
has cited no valid authority for the proposition that using the same random
alphabetization in both the primary and runoff phases of a single election
violates equal protection requirements.
Gould v. Grubb (1975) 14 Cal.3d 661, 122 Cal.Rptr. 377, 536 P.2d 1337,
upon which Bradley relies, is readily distinguishable. The city charter
provision at issue in Gould required that any incumbent seeking reelection
automatically be given the advantageous top ballot position. The Supreme
Court invalidated this provision in Gould as unconstitutional, finding
"that any procedure which allocates such advantageous positions to
a particular class of candidates inevitably discriminates against voters
supporting all other candidates, and accordingly can only be sustained
if necessary to further a compelling governmental interest. Applying this
test, we conclude that the city has demonstrated no compelling interest
which necessitates the provision's discriminatory classification scheme
and thus we uphold the trial court's determination of invalidity."
(Id. at p. 664, 122 Cal.Rptr. 377, 536 P.2d 1337.)
In this case, on the other hand, no particular class of candidates, such
as incumbents, automatically receives the advantageous top ballot position.
Instead, the candidates are placed on the runoff ballot according to the
randomized alphabetization drawn for that election by the Secretary of
State. It appears Bradley's quarrel with using the same randomized
alphabet for the runoff election is that he considers the runoff election
to be a new and separate election which is independent of the primary
election. As we have discussed, however, there is no new filing period
for the runoff election, which is simply the second round of voting in
a single election. (Edelstein v. City and County of San Francisco, supra,
29 Cal.4th at p. 174, 126 Cal.Rptr.2d 727, 56 P.3d 1029.)
We conclude the trial court erred in entering judgment against Perrodin
and for Bradley, and reverse that portion of the judgment.
Perrodin has requested costs and attorney fees on appeal. Although Perrodin
is entitled to costs, we deny his request for private attorney general
fees on appeal. (Code Civ. Proc., ß 1021.5.) [FN10] Perrodin contends
his successful appeal has resulted in the enforcement of an important
right affecting the public interest and has conferred a significant benefit
on the public, namely "the fundamental right of self-determination
for the citizens of Compton." That same fundamental right, however,
exists in each and every election contest. To recover private attorney
general fees, "[t]he claimant's objective in the litigation must
go beyond 'transcend' those things that concretely, specifically
and significantly affect the litigant ..., to affect the broader world
or 'general public' as the statute puts it." (Hammond v.
Agran (2002) 99 Cal.App.4th 115, 127, 120 Cal.Rptr.2d 646.) Attorney fees
connected to a candidate's "quest for elective office,"
on the other hand, do not transcend the candidate's "palpable
personal stake in the ... election." (Id. at p. 128, 120 Cal.Rptr.2d
646.) Accordingly, we deny Perrodin's request for attorney fees.
FN10. Code of Civil Procedure section 1021.5 provides in part: "Upon
motion, a court may award attorneys' fees to a successful party against
one or more opposing parties in any action which has resulted in the enforcement
of an important right affecting the public interest if: (a) a significant
benefit, whether pecuniary or nonpecuniary, has been conferred on the
general public or a large class of persons, (b) the necessity and financial
burden of private enforcement, or of enforcement by one public entity
against another public entity, are such as to make the award appropriate,
and (c) such fees should not in the interest of justice be paid out of
the recovery, if any...."
II
THE IRVING-ANDREWS ELECTION
Section 16100, subdivision (c) provides that an election contest may be
brought on the ground "[t]hat the defendant ... has committed any
other offense against the elective franchise defined in Division 18 (commencing
with Section 18000)." In this case, the trial court found that Irving
had committed offenses against the elective franchise in violation of
four sections in Division 18 by: (1) knowingly soliciting nine non-citizens
to register to vote by absentee ballot in violation of section 18100,
subdivision (a); (2) being present in the nine absentee voters' homes
while they were voting and telling them how to vote in violation of section
18371, subdivision (a); (3) fraudulently registering the nine non-citizens
and assisting them to vote or voting for them in violation of section
18500; and (4) soliciting illegal votes from the nine nonqualified voters
in violation of section 18561.
Irving contends on appeal that "there is no consistent evidence that
Irving participated personally in any of the alleged fraudulent acts."
(Some caps. omitted.) Irving claims "that at most, there were nine
witnesses who could connect Irving to a handful of the acts the trial
court considered fraudulent." Irving points out that the nine witnesses
were Spanish speaking and their alleged conversations with her took place
through an interpreter (Irving's sister). Irving maintains there is
no evidence that Irving speaks or understands Spanish, or knew the witnesses
were not citizens. Irving also points to the relatively weak eyewitness
identification of Irving by some of the nine witnesses. According to Irving,
"A review of the nine witnesses ['] testimony reveals that only
five could make any identification of Irving, and this only relating to
the initial visit seeking registration. And even among those five, the
identifications differ in more than 'minor' detail[.]"
The trial court weighed all of the evidence, however, and concluded, based
upon substantial and credible testimony, that Irving had committed offenses
against the elective franchise. "Except where additional evidence
is required by statute, the direct evidence of one witness who is entitled
to full credit is sufficient for proof of any fact." (Evid.Code,
ß 411; see 3 Witkin, Cal. Evidence (4th ed. 2000) Presentation at
Trial, ß ß 89- 94, pp. 123-130.) " 'Although an appellate
court will not uphold a judgment or verdict based upon evidence inherently
improbable, testimony which merely discloses unusual circumstances does
not come within that category. [Citation.] To warrant the rejection of
the statements given by a witness who has been believed by a trial court,
there must exist either a physical impossibility that they are true, or
their falsity must be apparent without resorting to inferences or deductions.
[Citations.] Conflicts and even testimony which is subject to justifiable
suspicion do not justify the reversal of a judgment, for it is the exclusive
province of the trial judge or jury to determine the credibility of a
witness and the truth or falsity of the facts upon which a determination
depends. [Citation.]' [Citations.]" (People v. Thornton (1974)
11 Cal.3d 738, 754, 114 Cal.Rptr. 467, 523 P.2d 267, disapproved on other
grounds in People v. Flannel (1979) 25 Cal.3d 668, 684, fn. 12, 160 Cal.Rptr.
84, 603 P.2d 1; People v. Martinez (1999) 20 Cal.4th 225, 83 Cal.Rptr.2d
533, 973 P.2d 512.)
In this case, the testimony of Elvita Andrade, which was similar in many
respects to that of the other eight witnesses, is sufficient to uphold
the trial court's finding that Irving had committed offenses against
the franchise. Andrade testified that although she had spoken with Irving
through a translator, she had also spoken directly with Irving in English.
Andrade stated she had told Irving, in English, that she is not a United
States citizen. Andrade explained that Irving's response was "that
[citizenship] had nothing to do with it. That it had nothing to do with
the government, so that it would not [a]ffect my citizenship. [∂
] That it was just for the school. [∂ ] ... [∂ ] ... Because
this was to help the kids." Andrade said she had been told to sign
an absentee ballot application, which she did, and that either Irving
or the translator would pick up the absentee ballot from her when it arrived.
Andrade stated that when the translator came to pick up Andrade's
absentee ballot, she (Andrade) had signed the ballot and given it to the
translator without marking (or punching) it. Someone other than Andrade,
presumably someone connected with Irving's campaign, marked and submitted
Andrade's absentee ballot, which was counted in the election.
When an otherwise successful candidate such as Irving is subsequently found
to have committed an offense or offenses against the elective franchise,
her election may be annulled even if the number of unqualified voters
she fraudulently registered or the number of votes she unlawfully solicited
were too few to have changed the outcome of the election. As the California
Supreme Court explained: "Each ... 'offense against the elective
franchise defined in Division 17 [now 18]' of the Elections Code ...
can furnish independent statutory grounds for contesting and annulling
the election, separate and apart from the effects of any illegal votes
actually counted. ( [Former] ß 20021, subd. (c) [, now ß 16100,
subd. (c) ]; see Stebbins v. White (1987) 190 Cal.App.3d 769, 788-791,
235 Cal.Rptr. 656.)" (Gooch v. Hendrix (1993) 5 Cal.4th 266, 275,
fn. 4, 19 Cal.Rptr.2d 712, 851 P.2d 1321.)
Irving contends her election may only be annulled under section 16100,
subdivision (c) for having committed offenses against the electorate if:
(1) she was found to have committed bribery for the purpose of winning
the election, (2) there is substantial evidence her unlawful conduct changed
the results of the election, or (3) there is substantial evidence that
fraud permeated the election. We find no merit in any of these contentions.
Regarding her claim that bribery is a prerequisite for annulling her election,
Irving cites Salazar v. City of Montebello (1987) 190 Cal.App.3d 953,
235 Cal.Rptr. 708. Salazar, which predates Gooch v. Hendrix, supra, 5
Cal.4th 266, 19 Cal.Rptr.2d 712, 851 P.2d 1321, held that a specific finding
of bribery is required to annul the election of a candidate whose offenses
against the electorate did not change the election result. (Salazar v.
City of Montebello, supra, 190 Cal.App.3d at p. 960, 235 Cal.Rptr. 708.)
Salazar relied upon Canales v. City of Alviso (1970) 3 Cal.3d 118, 129-
130, 89 Cal.Rptr. 601, 474 P.2d 417, a ballot measure election contest
in which the measure's proponents had committed offenses against the
electorate. Canales held that the result of a ballot measure election
should not be annulled for the misdeeds of the measure's proponents,
"unless the misdeeds affected the outcome. In a footnote, the Court
[in Canales ] left undecided whether a showing that a candidate is responsible
for the misdeeds is sufficient to disqualify him absent a showing that
the result was affected. 'Perhaps the absence of a statutory requirement
of a showing that bribery affected the result is explained by the fact
that a candidate who is convicted of bribery is thereby rendered ineligible
for office. (Cal. Const., art. XX, ß 10.) We need not now decide
whether a showing by a preponderance of evidence that a candidate is responsible
for misdeeds specified in section 20021 [now section 16100], subdivision
(c), is sufficient to invalidate an election absent both a conviction
and a demonstration that the misdeeds determined the result of the election.
[Citation.]' ( [Canales v. City of Alviso, supra, 3 Cal.3d] at p.
130, fn. 5, 89 Cal.Rptr. 601, 474 P.2d 417, italics in original.)"
(Stebbins v. White, supra, 190 Cal.App.3d 769, 788-789, 235 Cal.Rptr.
656, fn. omitted.)
Nothing in Canales, which dealt with a ballot measure, required Salazar
to hold that a candidate's offense which failed to change the election
result will result in annulment only if the offense was bribery. The most
that can be said about Canales on this point is that the Supreme Court
did not decide whether a candidate's election may be annulled for
an offense that failed to change the election result. That question was
again mentioned by the Supreme Court in Gooch v. Hendrix, supra, 5 Cal.4th
at page 275, footnote 4, 19 Cal.Rptr.2d 712, 851 P.2d 1321, when it cited
Stebbins v. White, supra, 190 Cal.App.3d at pages 788-791, 235 Cal.Rptr.
656, with approval.
Stebbins found it permissible under section 16100, subdivision (c) to annul
the election of a candidate whose offenses against the electorate did
not change the election result. (Stebbins v. White, supra, 190 Cal.App.3d
at p. 790, 235 Cal.Rptr. 656.) Stebbins explained: "The grounds for
contesting an election are set out in Elections Code section 20021 [now
section 16100] and the court is explicitly authorized to pronounce judgment
in a contested election proceeding 'either confirming or annulling
and setting aside the election.' (Elec.Code, ß 20086 [now ß
16603].) Thus the question is not whether the court is authorized to annul
an election on one of the statutory grounds of contest but is rather whether
there is some other statutory restriction decreeing that an election cannot
be annulled unless the criminally obtained votes would change the election
result. Since there is no such statutory restriction, we conclude that
a violation of Elections Code section 20021, subdivision (c) [now section
16100] by the person whose election is contested constitutes grounds for
annulling his election." (Ibid.)
In Gooch v. Hendrix, supra, 5 Cal.4th at page 275, footnote 4, 19 Cal.Rptr.2d
712, 851 P.2d 1321, the Supreme Court implicitly disagreed with Salazar's
bribery requirement language by citing Stebbins with approval and stating:
"Each constitutes an 'offense against the elective franchise
defined in Division 17' of the Elections Code, violations of which
themselves can furnish independent statutory grounds for contesting and
annulling the election, separate and apart from the effects of any illegal
votes actually counted. (ß 20021, subd. (c); see Stebbins v. White
(1987) 190 Cal.App.3d 769, 788-791, 235 Cal.Rptr. 656.)"
Notwithstanding the above-quoted language from Gooch, Irving argues that
Gooch requires a finding that fraud permeated the election before her
election may be annulled. Gooch, however, involved an election contest
primarily brought against 12 school board candidates under former section
20024 (now section 16203), on the basis of illegal votes. (Gooch, supra,
5 Cal.4th at pp. 274-275, fn. 4, 285, 19 Cal.Rptr.2d 712, 851 P.2d 1321.)
The illegal votes in Gooch were cast by absentee voters whose ballot applications
had been solicited by members of a voter education project called the
Black American Political Association of California (BAPAC). When the absentee
ballots arrived, the voters were encouraged to vote in the presence of
the BAPAC solicitor, who would offer advice on the candidates or issues.
Although it was impossible to determine for which candidates the illegal
votes were cast, the Supreme Court found sufficient uncontroverted circumstantial
evidence that the illegal votes had affected the outcome of the election
to justify annulling all of the election results. (Id. at p. 285, 19 Cal.Rptr.2d
712, 851 P.2d 1321.) The Supreme Court explained: "We do not believe
the Legislature intended that under circumstances such as these, where
clear and convincing evidence established pervasive illegalities that
permeated the election process, and where, although it cannot be determined
on a vote-by-vote basis for whom the illegal votes were cast, it nonetheless
'appears' the illegal votes affected the outcome of the election,
a trial court is without authority to annul and set aside the election
results within its discretion under section 20086 [now section 16603]."
(Id. at p. 282, 19 Cal.Rptr.2d 712, 851 P.2d 1321.)
Gooch, contrary to Irving's position, did not hold that a candidate's
offenses against the electorate will result in annulment only if the offenses
changed the outcome or fraud so permeated the election process that it
appears the illegal votes affected the outcome of the election. Although
there was evidence in Gooch that some of the candidates had committed
offenses against the electorate (two school board candidates were among
the BAPAC solicitors who engaged in the unlawful solicitation of votes
(Gooch, supra, 5 Cal.4th at p. 274, 19 Cal.Rptr.2d 712, 851 P.2d 1321);
"[ ]at least 4 of the 12 defendant-candidates were members of BAPAC;
11 of the 12 had been given BAPAC absentee ballots for delivery to the
voters[ ]" (id. at p. 281, 19 Cal.Rptr.2d 712, 851 P.2d 1321)), the
Supreme Court declined to review the finding that some candidates'
offenses against the elective franchise "furnished a separate and
independent basis for annulling the election results. (See ante, at pp.
274-275, and fn. 4, 19 Cal.Rptr.2d 712, 851 P.2d 1321.)" (Id. at
p. 285, fn. 10, 19 Cal.Rptr.2d 712, 851 P.2d 1321.) Instead, the Supreme
Court annulled the entire election as to all candidates, including those
who were innocent of having committed misdeeds, based on circumstantial
evidence that the illegal votes had changed the election results. In short,
Gooch is not inconsistent with our determination that Irving's misdeeds,
even though they did not change the election results, properly resulted
in the annulment of her election.
We conclude, under subdivision (c) of section 16100, Irving's election
was properly annulled based on the finding, which was supported by substantial
evidence, that she had committed offenses against the franchise. The trial
court properly annulled Irving's election under section 16100, subdivision
(c) despite the lack of evidence that Irving's offenses changed the
outcome of the election. (Gooch v. Hendrix, supra, 5 Cal.4th at p. 275,
fn. 4, 19 Cal.Rptr.2d 712, 851 P.2d 1321; Stebbins v. White, supra, 190
Cal.App.3d at pp. 788-791, 235 Cal.Rptr. 656.) We affirm the portion of
the judgment annulling Irving's election under section 16100, subdivision (c).
III
THE JUDGMENT FOR ANDREWS
Although we agree Irving's election was properly annulled, we disagree
that judgment was properly entered for Andrews, who was judicially declared
elected despite her failure to win the highest number of legal votes in
the June runoff election. Under section 16603, having found Irving, the
winning candidate, disqualified for having committed misdeeds that failed
to change the result of the election, the trial court should have entered
judgment "annulling and setting aside the election." (ß
16603, italics added.) The Elections Code does not permit the trial court
to annul the election of the winning candidate, based on offenses that
did not change the result of the election, and then declare another candidate
elected by shifting legal votes between the two candidates under the primacy
effect theory. Having annulled the winning candidate's election for
misdeeds that did not change the election results, the court should have
annulled and set aside the runoff election under section 16603.
Andrews contends the judgment declaring her elected may not be reviewed
on Irving's appeal because Irving, whose "election was properly
annulled by the trial court, ... has no justiciable interest as a candidate
to protect as a basis for challenging the remainder of the court's
order relating to the seat for which she ran." (Emphasis omitted.)
Citing Pierce v. Harrold 1982) 138 Cal.App.3d 415, 188 Cal.Rptr. 458,
[FN11] Andrews contends that once Irving's election was annulled,
Irving lost standing to challenge the portion of the judgment awarding
the seat to Andrews, contrary to the election results, under the primacy
effect theory.
FN11. In Pierce, an election contest was successfully brought against Joanne
K. Harrold, the winner of a judicial seat in a primary election who was
disqualified for having committed the offense of filing a knowingly false
declaration of candidacy. (ß 16100, subd. (c).) Harrold's election
was annulled and a new election was called in which Harrold was prohibited
from running for the same seat. On appeal, the court found Harrold lacked
standing to challenge the portion of the order prohibiting her from running
for the same seat, stating that Harrold "had and continues to have
no justiciable interest in the order calling for the November 2, 1982
election.... [N]ow that her election to the office has been adjudged a
nullity, she has no interest as a candidate to protect as a basis for
challenging that portion of the court's order." (Pierce v. Harrold,
supra, 138 Cal.App.3d at p. 432, 188 Cal.Rptr. 458.)
The question of who, if anyone, was duly elected to the city council seat
in the runoff election is central to Andrews' election contest against
Irving. As the candidate with the highest number of legal votes in the
runoff election, Irving's interest was injured by the shifting of
legal votes from Irving to Andrews. In that regard, Irving is an aggrieved
party entitled to be heard on appeal on the primacy effect issue. (See
9 Witkin, Cal. Procedure (4th ed. 1997) Appeal, ß 181, p. 237.)
In another regard, however, Irving's personal interest in the primacy
effect issue was mooted by her disqualification from office under section
16100, subdivision (c).
Given that this election contest involves questions broader than Irving's
personal interest as a candidate for the contested office, we conclude
the electorate's interest in this important legal issue requires that
the primacy effect issue be addressed. [FN12] Election contests are not
typical adversary proceedings "between individuals asserting personal
rights or interests, but involve the right of the people to have the fact
as to who has been duly elected by them judicially determined. An election
contest involves a question of broader import than the mere individual
claim of a person to enjoy the honors and emoluments of a particular office
brought directly into contest. The inquiry must be as to whether in a
given instance the popular will has been, or is about to be, thwarted
by mistake or fraud. The public interest imperatively requires that the
ultimate determination of the contest shall reach the right result."
(28 Cal. Jur.3d (1986) Elections, ß 221, pp. 727-728, fns. omitted.)
FN12. Moreover, whether we reached the primacy effect issue in the context
of Bradley's appeal, where the issue was also raised, or in this appeal
makes no difference because our legal determination of the same issue
would obviously apply to both appeals.
Turning to the merits of Irving's contentions, we find that by shifting
votes from Irving to Andrews based solely on the primacy effect theory,
the trial court exceeded its authority. Under sections 16203, 16402, and
16703, only illegal votes may be discarded in an election contest. [FN13]
If the court finds, after discarding the illegal votes given for the winning
candidate, that another candidate "has the highest number of legal
votes, the court shall declare that person elected." (ß 16703.)
Otherwise, if discarding the illegal votes given for the winning candidate
would not change the result of the election, and the winning candidate
is disqualified from taking office due to having committed offenses against
the elective franchise, the court shall enter judgment "annulling
and setting aside the election." (ß 16603.)
FN13. Section 16203 states in part: "An election shall not be set
aside on account of illegal votes, unless it appears that a number of
illegal votes has been given to the person whose right to the office is
contested ... which, if taken from him, would reduce the number of his
legal votes below the number of votes given to some other person for the
same office, after deducting therefrom the illegal votes which may be
shown to have been given to that other person."
Section 16402 states: "When the reception of illegal votes is alleged
as a cause of contest, it is sufficient to state generally that in one
or more specified voting precincts illegal votes were given to the defendant,
which, if taken from him or her, will reduce the number of his or her
legal votes below the number of legal votes given to some other person
for the same office. [∂ ] Testimony shall not be received of any
illegal votes, unless the contestant delivers to the defendant, at least
three days before the trial, a written list of the number of illegal votes,
and by whom given, which he or she intends to prove. No testimony may
be received of any illegal votes except those that are specified in the
list."
Section 16703 states: "If in any election contest it appears that
another person than the defendant has the highest number of legal votes,
the court shall declare that person elected." (Italics added.)
In this case, the trial court found a total of 144 illegal votes had been
cast in the runoff election, but found it impossible to determine in whose
favor (other than the nine illegal votes for Irving) the illegal votes
had been cast. Even if we were to assume that all 144 illegal votes had
been cast for Irving, subtracting 144 illegal votes from Irving's
total would still have left her the victor with 5,270 legal votes to Andrews's
4,863 legal votes. Therefore, the illegal votes cast for Irving did not
change the result of the election, and there was no other candidate with
more legal votes than Irving. Given Irving's disqualification from
taking office due to her offenses against the elective franchise, the
trial court should have entered a judgment "annulling and setting
aside the election." (ß 16603, italics added.)
Instead, in a ruling unprecedented, to our knowledge, in this country,
the trial court shifted 295 legal votes from Irving to Andrews based solely
on the 3.32% primacy effect assumed to be enjoyed, on average, by those
listed first on the ballot. While many courts and legislatures have recognized
the advantage afforded to candidates whose names are listed first on the
ballot, no judicial or statutory authority exists to reverse the results
of an election where, due to unintentional clerical error, the ballot
listed the candidates in the wrong alphabetical order.
Election results may only be challenged on one of the grounds specified
in section 16100. (Friends of Sierra Madre v. City of Sierra Madre (2001)
25 Cal.4th 165, 192, 105 Cal.Rptr.2d 214, 19 P.3d 567.) Name-order error
occurring in the absence of fraud and resulting purely from unintentional
clerical error, as in this case, is not a valid ground for an election
contest under section 16100. The fact that 295 legal votes may have been
cast for Irving solely because her name was erroneously listed first on
the ballot does not, in itself, impeach the integrity of those 295 votes.
Legal votes randomly cast by the least informed or least interested voters
are entitled to the same weight as legal votes cast by the most highly
educated and informed voters in our society. The legality or illegality
of a vote cast by a qualified voter in a lawful manner does not depend
upon the voter's motive or purpose in voting a certain way. (See Bush
v. Head (1908) 154 Cal. 277, 281-282, 97 P. 512.) To shift 295 legal votes
to "correct" the votes "randomly" cast for Irving
solely as a result of her erroneous advantageous ballot position (and
to award those same "random" votes to Andrews based solely on
the primacy effect theory) would be, without any lawful justification,
to disenfranchise those 295 voters. (See Shinn v. Heusner (1949) 91 Cal.App.2d
248, 252, 204 P.2d 886 [To invalidate lawfully cast absentee votes "would
be, without warrant, to disfranchise these voters."]; Dennen v. Jastro
(1913) 23 Cal.App. 264, 267, 137 P. 1069 [Clerk's inadvertent error
in listing the same candidate twice, as the nominee of two different political
parties, "should not disenfranchise the entire vote of the district
and vitiate the election, unless it be made to appear that by reason of
the irregularity the result was different from what it would otherwise
have been, or that it prevented the voter from freely, fairly, and honestly
expressing his choice of the candidate for the office."]; Nelson
v. Robinson (Fla.App.1974) 301 So.2d 508 [A candidate's unfavorable
ballot position which allowed voters to exercise free choice after a reasonable
study of the ballot, does not constitute a violation of equal protection.];
Roberts v. Byrd (Ky.1961) 344 S.W.2d 378, 381 [Clerk's failure to
rotate names every 50 ballots did not void the election.]; Bees v. Gilronan
(Ohio Com.Pl.1953) 116 N.E.2d 317 [In the absence of fraud, election officials'
failure to properly rotate candidates' names on the voting machine
ballots did not invalidate the election.].)
We conclude the trial court erred in entering judgment for Andrews and
declaring her elected when she had failed to win the highest number of
legal votes in the June 5, 2001, election. Accordingly, we reverse the
judgment in favor of Andrews.
IV
THE VACANT COUNCIL SEAT
Under Government Code section 1770, an office becomes vacant when, among
other circumstances, the officer is removed from office (Gov.Code, ß
1770, subd. (d)), or a court declares the officer's election or appointment
to be void (id. at subd. (j)). In this case, Andrews has been serving
as city council member based on the trial court's erroneous judgment
declaring her elected under the primacy effect theory. But having failed
to win the highest number of legal votes, Andrews should not have been
declared elected under section 16703. (See 28 Cal.Jur.3d, supra, at ß
255, p. 765 ["The decision of a competent tribunal declaring an election
void results in the office becoming vacant. Thus, where the court annuls
the defendant's election because he or she committed an offense against
the elective franchise, or because he or she is ineligible, it is not
authorized to declare anyone else elected. The defendant's disqualification
does not render the votes for the defendant illegal and require that his
or her votes be disregarded and that the election be given to the candidate
with the next highest number of votes. In such a case the office is vacant
and must be filled in the manner provided by law."].)
Accordingly, once this court's opinion reversing the judgment for Andrews
becomes final, Andrews' "election" will be annulled and
her seat will be vacant.
V
IRVING'S LIFETIME DISQUALIFICATION
Section 18501 states that "[a]ny public official who knowingly violates
any of the provisions of this chapter, and thereby aids in any way the
illegal casting or attempting to cast a vote, or who connives to nullify
any of the provisions of this chapter in order that fraud may be perpetrated,
shall forever be disqualified from holding office in this state and upon
conviction shall be sentenced to a state prison for 16 months or two or
three years." In this case, the record contains no evidence that
Irving was convicted under section 18501 or any other provision of Chapter
6 ("Corruption of the Voting Process") of Division 18 ("Penal
Provisions") of the Elections Code. Irving contends that in the absence
of a criminal conviction under Chapter 6 of Division 18 of the Elections
Code, the trial court erred in declaring her to be forever disqualified
under section 18501 from holding public office.
Having determined in part II of this opinion that Irving's city council
election was properly annulled under section 16100, subdivision (c) due
to her commission of offenses against the elective franchise, we conclude
Irving is disqualified from seeking or filling the council seat she had
sought in the 2001 election, for the remainder of that 2001 term. In other
words, Irving is ineligible to fill Andrews' vacant city council position.
(Pierce v. Harrold, supra, 138 Cal.App.3d at p. 434, 188 Cal.Rptr. 458.)
Irving's right to run for other terms of public office in future elections,
however, is a separate issue. Irving contends the lifetime ban of section
18501 does not apply in the absence of a criminal conviction of a Chapter
6 offense. Andrews, on the other hand, points out that section 18501 on
its face fails to link imposition of the lifetime ban with a conviction
under Chapter 6, whereas it specifically links imposition of a state prison
sentence with such a conviction. Andrews argues that because disqualification
from public office is a civil, not criminal, penalty, section 18501 imposes
both civil and criminal penalties. Under the civil aspect of the statute,
according to Andrews, the trial court properly imposed a lifetime ban
against Irving upon finding, in the civil context of the elections contest,
that she was a public official who had committed offenses against the
franchise and, thus, had violated section 18501.
While disqualification from public office is a "civil disability"
(Lubin v. Wilson (1991) 232 Cal.App.3d 1422, 1430, 284 Cal.Rptr. 70),
it is also true that disqualification is a civil penalty or " 'consequence
which flows' from the judgment of a felony conviction. [Citation.]"
(Ibid.) Violation of section 18501 is a felony punishable by a state prison
term of 16 months or two or three years. (See Pen.Code, ß 17, subd.
(a) [crimes punishable by death or imprisonment in state prison are felonies].)
Section 18501 is found in chapter 6, entitled "Corruption of the
Voting Process," of Division 18, entitled "Penal Provisions,"
along with other criminal statutes. Section 18501 is not located in Division
16, entitled "Elections Contests," where section 16100 is found.
Proving that a candidate's election should be annulled in a civil
action due to her commission of an offense against the elective franchise
(ß 16100, subd. (c)) is not the same as proving the candidate is
a public official who has committed a felony under section 18501.
We reject Andrews' invitation to parse the language of section 18501
in a manner that wholly ignores the section's placement with penal,
not civil, statutes in Division 18 of the Elections Code. We conclude
the only reasonable and practical construction of section 18501 is to
determine its lifetime disqualification penalty flows solely from a felony
conviction under that statute.
Pierce v. Harrold, supra, 138 Cal.App.3d 415, 188 Cal.Rptr. 458 supports
our view. Harrold contended on appeal that her election could only be
annulled under former section 20021 (presently section 16100), subdivision
(c), following a criminal conviction of an offense against the electorate.
The appellate court rejected this contention, reasoning in part that because
election contests must be filed within a relatively short time period,
"to make conviction of an offense a condition precedent even to initiating
an election contest would represent an absurd contradiction in legislative
policy. As contestants observe, 'It does not require extended discussion
of the realities relating to the time needed to prosecute even the least
complex criminal case to compel the conclusion that the conviction requirement
would render contests under ... Section 20021(c) virtually [impossible
to accomplish within the applicable statute of limitations.]' "
(Pierce v. Harrold, supra, 138 Cal.App.3d at p. 426, 188 Cal.Rptr. 458.)
The Pierce court held that although Harrold's disqualification might
not extend to the next election in 1988, it extended to the upcoming November
1982 general election, which was a continuation of the June 1982 primary
election from which Harrold was disqualified. (Pierce v. Harrold, supra,
138 Cal.App.3d at p. 434, 188 Cal.Rptr. 458.) We find Pierce persuasive.
In the absence of a felony conviction under section 18501, Irving's
disqualification under section 16100, subdivision (c) extends only throughout
the term covered by the 2001 election. Accordingly, we reverse the portion
of the judgment imposing an additional lifetime ban against Irving under
section 18501.
DISPOSITION
In Perrodin's appeal, we reverse the judgment for Bradley and enter
judgment for Perrodin. The certificate of election for Bradley is annulled;
a new certificate of election shall be issued to Perrodin. Perrodin is
awarded costs, but not attorney fees, on appeal.
In Irving's appeal, we affirm the portion of the judgment annulling
Irving's election under section 16100, subdivision (c), for having
committed offenses against the elective franchise. Under section 16100,
subdivision (c), Irving is disqualified from seeking or filling the council
seat she had sought in the 2001 election, for the remainder of that 2001
term. The certificate of election for Irving is annulled. We reverse the
portion of the judgment imposing a lifetime disqualification from public
office against Irving under section 18501. Irving shall bear her own costs.
We reverse the portion of the judgment declaring Andrews the winner of
the June 5, 2001, city council runoff election. The June 5, 2001, runoff
election between Andrews and Irving is annulled and set aside in its entirety.
The certificate of election for Andrews is annulled, and Andrews'
city council seat shall be vacant upon the finality of this opinion. Andrews
shall bear her own costs.
We concur: SPENCER, P.J., and MALLANO, J.
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