Confident Mayor Says City Would Win Court Challenge Over Petitions

The clerk ruled petitions to put an arena-funding measure on the June ballot didn't comply with state election law.

"The city clerk rejected the petitions. Our city attorney feels very good about our case. I've got outside counsel who also feels very good about the case.  Most likely, it'll end up in court and we're prepared for that.  It will just be another hurdle for us."

~Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson

On Friday, City Clerk Shirley Concolino ruled the group "Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork" or "STOP" violated three election laws that affected all of the petitions. 

The clerk said the violation of a fourth law would have invalidated about a quarter of the petitions.  That by itself is enough to keep the measure from going to the ballot.

STOP has said it will consider filing a lawsuit to have the petitions approved.