Zaldivar

ORDER GRANTING INTERVENORS’ MOTIONS FOR DISMISSAL and SANCTIONS

Arthur K. Snyder was elected Councilman of the 14th Council District of the City of Los Angeles on April 12, 1983. Shortly after his election, supporters of the candidate he defeated, Steve Rodriguez, initiated a campaign to have Snyder recalled. On December 2, 1983, the recall proponents served on Snyder, and had published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal, a notice of intention to recall Snyder and the reasons for the proposed recall. In accordance with the requirements of the City Election Code in effect at the time, the notice and accompanying statement were published and printed in English only. On December 16, 1983, Snyder published his answer to the recall statement in the Los Angeles Herald Examiner in both English and Spanish.

On December 23, 1983, the recall proponents began circulating petitions and gathering signatures. On that date, however, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed Ordinance No. 158584, effective December 27, 1983, which provided that all recall materials must be published in both English and Spanish. The recall proponents then reprinted their petitions in English and Spanish and…