News
Government
Mar. 1, 2002
Court Attempts to Give Closure In Compton's Election Debacle
LOS ANGELES - The state Supreme Court has given Eric Perrodin tighter hold on a title that has become very slippery: Mayor of Compton. On Thursday, the state's highest court denied a request by Omar Bradley to review a lower court ruling that ousted Bradley as mayor of Compton just twenty days after a trial court gave him the job.
On Thursday, the state's highest court denied a request by Omar Bradley to review a lower court ruling that ousted Bradley as mayor of Compton just twenty days after a trial court gave him the job.
By its one-sentence order, the state Supreme Court refused to perpetuate the flip-flopping of the title of mayor between Bradley and Eric Perrodin that has left the beleaguered city divided and directionless. It agreed to let stand a 2nd District Court of Appeal decision earlier this week that ordered Bradley to relinquish the seat by 4 p.m. Thursday.
Bradley's attorney, Bradley W. Hertz, declined comment.
Fred Woocher, Perrodin's attorney, said he was gratified by the decision and pleased that his client would be able to stay in office until an appeal is heard. Having Perrodin as mayor "is very important so that he can continue with the efforts he's trying to make to right the ship in Compton," Woocher said.
Hertz had filed the "emergency petition" with the state Supreme Court Wednesday, arguing that Perrodin should have sought an appeal from the trial court first and that in issuing its decision, the appeals court exceeded its authority.
Bradley has been mayor since Feb. 8, when Superior Court Judge Judith Chirlin ruled that a mistake made in the order of names on the Compton ballot resulted in Bradley losing to Perrodin in a June 5 election. Chirlin ordered the election result vacated and Bradley immediately installed in office.
However, on Tuesday, the 2nd District Court of Appeal, seeking to "prevent irreparable harm," stayed the decision and ordered Perrodin back in office.
Meanwhile a group of Compton residents are planning a court challenge over the city's decision this week to pay Bradley's $800,000-plus in legal fees and $43,000 in mayoral salary, Woocher said.
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Erin Carroll
Daily Journal Staff Writer
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