Cook sued for use of ‘mayor’ title in campaign

A prominent Republican attorney is suing Huntington Beach Mayor Debbie Cook and the Orange County Registrar of Voters, alleging that Cook has illegally referred to herself as “the Mayor of Huntington Beach” in conjunction with her campaign to unseat Rep. Dana Rohrabacher.

According to election code, candidates may not officially identify themselves with titles that are “only nominal, pro forma, or titular in character,” or as officials not elected by “the people” of their district. As Cook was selected, not elected, as mayor by her peers on the Huntington Beach City Council, the Democrat’s campaign is not entitled to employ the title, attorney Michael Schroeder said.

“We filed the lawsuit because she should know better — she’s an attorney, and does work in regulatory law and that sort of thing,” he said. “It’s not appropriate for an elected official to be a scofflaw; she should comply with the law.”

While there are a number of Republican candidates in similar positions employing the title of “mayor,” such as Assembly candidates Jeff Miller and Neil Blais in the 71st district, Schroeder said he had no comment on whether or not they were also in violation of election codes.

“I’m not aware of that,” he said.

Cook said the lawsuit was an attempt to distract the voters from the real issues in the campaign.

“I think it’s pretty clear we’re in compliance,” Cook said. “We’re going to keep working hard at getting elected, and not get distracted by stuff like this.”

“This is just the beginning,” Cook Communications Director Joe Shaw said. “I don’t know what else they are going to bring; this is a pretty frivolous waste of taxpayer money. We should be talking about the issues. This is what people are sick of — partisan politics.”

Neal Kelley, the Orange County Registrar of Voters, said his office was staying neutral on the matter, and would comply with any decision rendered by the court.

BEING WOMAN OF THE YEAR TAKES A LOT OF HART

State Sen. Tom Harman recently picked former Newport Beach Mayor Evelyn Hart for the honor of Woman on the Year for the 35th congressional district.

“The 35th is a pretty large district, so I was really surprised that he chose me,” Hart said. “There’s a lot of good women in that district.”

Hart and other honorees from congressional districts across the state were recognized on the floor of the state Senate last week and Harman took Hart and her family out for lunch after the ceremony.

Harman chose 77-year-old Hart for her work with several nonprofit organizations, notably her efforts as president of Friends of Oasis, a nonprofit group that provides volunteers and funding for Oasis Senior Center in Corona Del Mar. Hart’s pet project right now is raising funds for a new senior center.

“The center is very popular and we have wonderful programs but we have just run out of room,” Hart said of the existing senior center.

Hart said her goal is to raise about $4.5 million more for the $20 million new Oasis center — $10 million for the project will come from city funding and another $5.6 million in funding will come from park fees the Irvine Co. had to pay the city for the North Newport Center Planned Community Project.

Officials will probably break ground on the project later this year, Hart said.

“Things are coming along fine and I’m confident we’ll be able to accomplish our goal,” Hart said.