Judge denies Stockton City Council candidate's bid for ballot spot, citing deadlines
A San Joaquin County judge on Friday denied a petition from a Stockton City Council candidate seeking to be placed on the June primary ballot, ruling that the request would disrupt critical election deadlines and violate state law.
The decision comes after Shakeel Samuel Carpenter, who also goes by Sam Carpenter, filed a verified petition for a writ of mandate Thursday, March 12, in San Joaquin County Superior Court. He sued the city of Stockton, San Joaquin County, City Clerk Katherine Roland and Registrar of Voters Olivia Hale, arguing that he was improperly denied an opportunity to correct deficiencies in his nomination papers.
Carpenter was seeking to qualify for the District 5 seat in the June 2 municipal election, currently held by incumbent Brando Villapudua. Other candidates in the race are Ruben Harper, who has no ballot designation; Mary Elizabeth, a scientist and registered environmental health specialist; Desiree Lynch Gutierrez, a post-surgery recovery nurse; and Max Beas, a small business owner.
According to the petition, Carpenter submitted 24 signatures on March 5, but only four were deemed valid. Roland later informed him that 15 signatures were from unregistered voters and three were from outside of the district, leaving him below the required threshold.
https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/politics/government/2026/03/27/stockton-city-council-candidate-denied-ballot-spot-after-judges-ruling/89352122007/