Draft-Cuomo Drive Won’t Give Up

Efforts to put the name of New York Gov. Mario M. Cuomo before Democratic voters in California will continue despite a decision by the secretary of state to leave the governor’s name off the June presidential primary ballot, the leader of a draft-Cuomo group said Thursday.

Los Angeles attorney Steven Polard said the Draft Cuomo for President Committee will continue circulating petitions despite Secretary of State March Fong Eu’s decision. An aide to Cuomo had asked Eu’s office to leave the governor’s name off the ballot.

Polard said his group’s efforts are based on a provision of California law that allows for a candidate’s name to be put on the ballot by petition. Polard said he expects a court fight once he has the required 22,500 valid signatures of registered voters on petitions.

Anthony Miller, chief deputy to Eu, said the secretary of state’s office does not agree with Polard’s reading of the law. Miller said the law does allow for the circulation of petitions, but only if the candidate acts on his own behalf.