In a significant blow to his political aspirations and a dark mark on the integrity of local elections, Fullerton City Council candidate Scott Markowitz has been charged with two felonies after investigators determined he lied about collecting signatures for his nomination papers. According to the Orange County District Attorney's Office, Markowitz falsely attested that he witnessed the signing of his nomination paperwork, a key requirement for candidacy in the upcoming November 5 election.
The investigation by the District Attorney's office revealed that multiple signers confirmed they never saw Markowitz during the signing, casting serious aspersions on the legitimacy of his nomination process and despite the printed ballots already featuring his name, Markowitz will be ineligible to assume office, even if elected—Fullerton may be thrust into the costly process of arranging a special election. "Voters must have total confidence that every election is being carried out in a fair and unbiased manner," stated Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer in a release, as reported by KTLA.
Arrested on a Monday night, Markowitz faces a potential maximum sentence of three years and eight months in state prison if convicted on all counts including perjury by declaration and recording a false instrument, which cast a long shadow over the integrity of his campaign and bring the specter of legal consequence to the political arena in Fullerton, as per the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Deputy District Attorney Heather Heslep-Morrissey from the Special Prosecutions Unit is leading the prosecution in this case.
