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Judge's ruling could complicate count

BY JAMES BURGER, Californian staff writer
e-mail: jburger@bakersfield.com | Tuesday, Jan 22 2008 9:35 PM

Last Updated: Tuesday, Jan 22 2008 9:37 PM

A judge ruled against the County of San Diego in an elections lawsuit against California Secretary of State Debra Bowen.

Kern County had backed San Diego in the lawsuit.

San Diego had argued Bowen overstepped her authority in deciding that county elections officials will have to recount 10 percent of the precincts in close elections battles this year.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Patricia Cowett disagreed.

"She felt the Secretary of State had the authority to impose the requirement," said Kern County attorney Steve Sanders.

Kern County Auditor Controller Ann Barnett said the decision probably won't impact Kern County much in the Feb. 5 election.

But elections in June and November, which will be filled with races for city councils, school boards and small government districts, could become serious problems for the county.

Those races can often be close, triggering a recount that could add long days to the election department's counting process.

"In June and November things could be much more difficult," Barnett said. "We anticipate that we could be hit really hard."