An Alameda County Superior Court judge is
allowing a candidate for the same court to 
keep his candidate statement intact.

SUPERIOR COURT |
An Alameda County Superior Court judge ruled last week that Scott Jackson, a candidate this fall for the same branch of the county judiciary, will be allowed to include a pivotal party endorsement in his candidate statement.

The sentence, “I am the only candidate endorsed by the Alameda County Democratic Party because our courts need experienced judges who reflect our communities diversity” was allowed by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch on Sept. 2.

Last month, the Alameda County Registrar of Voters removed mention of the party endorsement on the grounds the state’s Election Code prohibits the inclusion of party affiliations in candidate statements.

Jackson’s campaign, however, disagreed, saying the county registrar had allowed candidates in past elections to include a reference to their party affiliation, including one instance two years in a little-known Alameda County Water District race.

The short description, often part biographical, can be an important tool for down-ballot candidates, like this particular competitive judicial election, for campaigns to speak directly to voters. The statements are included in the voter guide soon to arrive in mailboxes in coming weeks.

Jackson, a former Alameda County deputy district attorney is facing Alameda attorney Barbara Thomas in November. Thomas narrowly avoided a run-off in the June primary after winning 48 percent of the vote. Jackson finished second in the three-person race.

The superior court campaign is the only contested race in the county judiciary this fall. The winner will replace retiring Superior Court Judge Lawrence Appel.

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