Decision expected in judge race

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- A court ruling today allowing the removal of a besieged

judge from the November ballot could officially cap a successful

judgeship campaign for a local attorney whose chances of ascending the

bench herself are still being counted.

Gay Sandoval, a write-in candidate for Orange County Superior Court

Office No. 21 and currently second in the write-in tally, said she would

declare an unequivocal victory in her crusade to defeat judge Ronald C.

Kline if the court orders the Orange County Registrar’s Office to remove

his name from the November ballot.

“That was my goal and this will finally end it,” said Sandoval, a

former Daily Pilot columnist.

Kline is scheduled to ask the court this morning to force the county

registrar’s office to remove his name from the November ballot, an

election that would determine whether he keeps his seat on the bench

despite pending criminal charges of child molestation and possession of

child pornography.

Kline received only 33% of the votes in the March preliminary

election.

Election officials said if Kline is pulled from the ballot, the top

two write-in candidates would most likely battle for the position. The

individual write-in tallies are still being counted.

As of late Wednesday, nearly half of the count was finished with John

Adams of Dana Point leading with 56,762 votes. Sandoval trailed with

17,328 while Costa Mesa Councilwoman Karen Robinson boasted 7,768 votes.

Sandoval, 49, was the first to challenge Kline, who is currently under

house arrest pertaining to the criminal charges. He was slated to run

unchallenged and subsequently voters would not have been given an option

for the office.

After learning of Kline’s legal troubles, Sandoval lobbied to get her

name on the ballot and then gathered the required signatures to allow for

write-in candidates. Once that door was opened, Robinson and nine others

quickly waged their own write-in campaigns.

Sandoval, a Costa Mesa resident, was just as shocked as she was

pleased to hear the news of Kline’s request.

“Has a miracle happened?” Sandoval asked.

Sandoval received a fax from Kline’s attorney, Paul Meyer, informing

her of the judge’s intent to remove his name from “the November 5, 2002

ballot and any related election materials.”

Kline could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Meyer released a

statement that read, “all matters regarding Judge Kline will be presented

in court and not in the press.”

Included in the faxed notification sent late Tuesday by Meyer, the

attorney asked each write-in candidate if he or she had any objection to

Kline’s request.

Both Sandoval and Robinson said they did not object.

Sandoval hoped her fellow write-in candidates would follow suit. Her

goal was to see Kline removed from office and this request will make that

happen, she said.

“It doesn’t mean it will be granted but it has a better chance if no

one objects,” Sandoval said.

Robinson, 38, reserved further comment until after the court made its

decision.

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .