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Press Release

September 6, 2006

Contact:
Ernest Kimme, Orderly Growth Committee, 707-447-1555
Nicole Byrd, Greenbelt Alliance, 707-427-2308

Orderly Growth Ballot Decision Upholds Election Law

Judge Finds Everyone Has To Play By the Rules

On September 6th, Judge William Harrison ruled to uphold election law, stating that ballot arguments are due by 5 p.m. on the deadline date chosen by the Elections Department. Opponents of Solano County’s Orderly Growth Initiative had missed the August 18th deadline to file ballot arguments for the November ballot. After missing the deadline, they sued the County in an attempt to put their arguments on the ballot after the deadline had passed.

In response to the ruling, Ernest Kimme, chair of the Orderly Growth Committee, said “We support playing by the rules, and the judge clearly saw that the opponents did not meet the necessary filing deadlines.”

The law also states that if ballot arguments both for and against a measure are submitted, authors will have the opportunity to submit rebuttal arguments. As no arguments against the measure were submitted, no rebuttal arguments can be submitted by either proponents or opponents.

Instructions about ballot arguments and rebuttals, including deadlines, are located on the County Elections website.

Measure J extends the Orderly Growth Initiative. The Orderly Growth Initiative has put development decisions in the hands of Solano County voters since 1984. More information on Measure J is available at www.solanovotersdecide.org.

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