A CANDIDATE for city attorney in Huntington Beach has been disqualified from running by the city clerk.

By Jim Tortolano

A candidate for city attorney in Huntington Beach has been disqualified from the Nov. 6 election, but says he will fight that in court.

According to Robin Estanislau, city clerk, Jerry Friedman – who is challenging incumbent Michael Gates for the job – doesn’t meet the city charter requirement that specifies a law degree from an American Bar Association-accredited school.

Friedman said he intends to file a request for a writ of mandamus in Orange County Superior Court later this week or early next week to declare that rule unconstitutional.

“The California state constitution prohibits a bill of attainder,” which Friedman says prohibits a legislative body – such as a city council – from punishing a person or group rather than a court of law.

Beyond the legal issue, Friedman feels it’s a matter of fairness. “There are good ABA school accredited attorneys and there are bad ones. There are good non-ABA school accredited attorneys and bad ones.”

“I feel that a public office should be available to the widest expanse of qualified candidates,” he added. The filing period closes on Aug. 10.

In other local election news, there is a new candidate for mayor of Westminster. According to the city clerk’s office, Christopher Ochoa has thrown his hat into the ring to challenge incumbent Tri Ta.

Stanton’s list of hopefuls for the District 3 seat has grown by one, as Charlotte L. Scott has taken out nomination papers for that post.

In Garden Grove, two more candidates for city council positions have emerged. In District 1, Gerry Serrano is in the race, and in District 3, it’s Duy Nguyen.