Judge to Review Results After Ordering 2nd Recount in S.F. Springs Election
SANTA FE SPRINGS — The results of a court-ordered recount of the April 8 City Council election will be reviewed by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge Monday to determine the victor.
Candidate Ruben Elizalde filed suit May 12 against Councilman Al Fuentes, City Clerk Hazel Thomas and the city, charging that some ballots were incorrectly counted during the election and in a recount three days later. Elizalde went to court seeking a second recount, which Judge Philip M. Saeta granted in a ruling Wednesday.
The recount was to be completed in time for a court hearing set for 8:30 a.m. Monday, City Manager Donald R. Powell said.
Elizalde apparently had won the election by one vote, but then lost the seat to Fuentes by two votes after a recount. Fuentes was then installed on the council in mid-April.
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