Challenger Baker Will Appear on Ballot Above Incumbent Baker

A city official randomly drew the name of the San Clemente City Council race's challenger Bob Baker to appear before his rival namesake on the November San Clemente City Council ballot.

As a result of an obscure election law governing situations in which two identical names appear on the same ballot, San Clemente city officials held a drawing to see if City Council incumbent Bob Barker or his challenger would get top billing on the ballot. Deputy Clerk Anthony Mejia wore a blindfold and faced the wall as City Clerk Joanne Baade turned a drum for 30 seconds. She was mixing up the names of each Bob Baker vying for one of two council seats. Each wrote his name and number designation, which will appear on the ballot.

The challenger will appear on the ballot in the fifth position as "Robert 'Bob' Baker 0." The incumbent will appear as "Robert 'Bob' Baker 1" in the sixth and last position.

City officials drew the names Thursday afternoon.