“Taxpayer Advocate/Senator Runner” is the Winner

Ballot designation challenge by BOE opponents Alby and Nakanishi denied

High Desert –  Taxpayer Advocate/Senator George Runner continued a long string of political victories today when a Sacramento County Superior Court Judge issued a court ruling that Runner is in fact a “taxpayer advocate” and that his ballot designation for Board of Equalization in the June primary will be “Taxpayer Advocate/Senator” as he requested.

“The Judge’s ruling was an accurate reflection of my work both in the Legislature and in local communities around the state on behalf of taxpayers,” said Runner. “Protecting taxpayers is something I have done for the last two decades as an elected official and businessman. This is something I want to continue on the Board of Equalization.”

The ballot designation that was approved by the Secretary of State was such a threat to the candidacies of former Assemblymembers Barbara Alby and Alan Nakanishi that they jointly attempted to get a judge to overrule the decision of the Secretary of State. They lost in court today.

Runner’s victory was in contrast to that of former Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi. Nakanishi went to court this morning without any ballot designation and lost his request to have “Jobs/Economy Specialist.” Instead, Nakanishi will appear on the ballot as “Jobs, Economy Analyst.” This same ballot designation would be available to any number of bureaucrats and seems out of place for an accomplished physician, former Mayor, and Assemblyman.

Runner will now have the ballot designation that both of his major opponents feared, the support of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the endorsement of the California Republican Assembly, high name identification in the part of the district with the most voters, more slate cards than any other candidate and an enormous fundraising advantage.

George Runner currently represents a large southern portion of BOE District 2 in the State Senate. He authored California’s Amber Alert system and Jessica’s Law in 2006. He lives in Lancaster with his wife, former Assemblywoman Sharon Runner.

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