San Clemente's Baker-vs.-Baker Drama from Nov. Election Prompts New State Law

Prompted by the Bob Baker vs. Bob Baker race in last November’s City Council election, Gov. Brown has signed a new law designed to ease voter confusion when two similarly named candidates run for the same office.

Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, R-Dana Point, sponsored the legislation and said in a press release it was in direct response to the Baker-off in San Clemente.

“Election law in California is in sore need of clarification. This bill is a great first step to allow for a smoother and more cost-effective election process for candidates, election officials – and most importantly, voters,” Harkey said in a statement.

She estimated the bill could save counties as much as $500,000.

Incumbent Bob Baker was initially challenged by another Bob Baker in San Clemente and cried foul when his name was listed last on the ballot.

Baker the challenger eventually dropped out of the race before Election Day, prompting Baker the incumbent to call his doppelganger-on-paper a decoy.

Harkey’s bill sets up a procedure in which a candidate can report a competing candidate has a too-similar name. Numbers will then be assigned – starting with No. 1 – in the order they filed their nominating papers.

The ballot will also include this notice:

“Warning! There are two (or applicable number) candidates for this office with identical names.”