Judge Orders Attack Cut From Ballot Statement

Mudslinging is as old as politics, but in Ventura County candidates had better mind their words, at least in their ballot statements, a judge ruled Friday.

Judge Henry Walsh ruled that Camarillo Councilman Mike Morgan must eliminate parts of his ballot statement in which he disparaged Supervisor Kathy Long, his November supervisor’s race opponent.

With little comment, Walsh agreed with Long’s contention that it is illegal to comment on an opponent’s faults in the informational pamphlet that is to be mailed to thousands of voters.

Long said she was pleased with Walsh’s decision. “The judge did what was right.”

Morgan’s statements suggested that Long was responsible for millions of dollars in fines stemming from a Medicare billing scandal and that she took money from special interests. Morgan said that his statement followed examples given to him by the county’s election office, and that he thought he was within the law.

“It doesn’t hurt me,” Morgan said of the decision.

Long filed a challenge Tuesday. Morgan tried to refile a new ballot statement Thursday with the office of the registrar of voters, but by law candidates are restrained from doing so after they have turned them in. Only a judge can have a statement edited or rewritten, elections chief Bruce Bradley said.

Otherwise, “you could see what they’ve said and then change your argument,” he said.

All parties’ statements must be in by Tuesday so they can be ready for printing by Friday, the county clerk’s office said.

Morgan’s opening paragraph--which the judge said must be cut completely--claimed a vote by Long to merge mental health departments cost the county $35 million.

Morgan had to cut a phrase that suggested Long took special-interest money, but he is allowed to say he does not.

Lindsay Nielson, Long’s attorney, said the campaign trail--not the voter’s pamphlet--is the place for the debate. “This isn’t a political statement. It’s a ‘Who am I?’ If he took out an ad, he could do that.”