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Confusion Hinders California Ballot Petition

BARSTOW,. California – As reported by the Desert Dispatch: "The proponent of an Indian gaming ballot initiative thought he had gathered enough signatures to put his proposal before voters, but it turns out he needs more than he thought.

"City Clerk JoAnne Cousino had told former City Council member Manuel 'Gil' Gurule that he needs signatures of 15 percent of the number of votes cast for governor in Barstow during the last gubernatorial election on Nov. 5, 2002.

"However, an attorney representing Gurule advised him that going by the number of votes in the gubernatorial election seems to conflict with the elections law, and that 15 percent of Barstow's 3,798 votes probably would not be enough signatures.

"Then, Cousino said Thursday evening that after communicating with the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters office Thursday afternoon, she determined that the correct formula uses the number of total voters in the city, not the votes cast in the gubernatorial election.

"…Although it appears that the proponents will be able to get enough signatures in time, Gurule said Thursday afternoon that he has been frustrated, because he and the other proponents didn't want to turn in the signatures and wind up not having enough to qualify the initiative for the ballot…"

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