Incumbent City Councilman Harold Hanson may run for re-election unopposed after all.
The county registrar today determined that Beau Woodward's last-minute effort to run against Hanson in the fifth ward has failed.
Woodward needed 20 registered ward 5 voters to endorse his campaign.
"It means that the deadline is over, because it was 5 o'clock friday, and at this point, he is not a valid candidate and his name will not be placed on the ballot," said Bakersfield City Clerk Pamela McCarthy
"I was amazed, to tell the truth. I would have thought they had the people in line to sign that document," said Hanson
Meantime, Woodward says he plans to appeal.
Woodward's bid was put together at the last minute by Republican political consultant Mark Abernathy.
Woodward filed his nomination papers 11 minutes before Friday's deadline.
City Clerk Pam McCarthy says Woodward's nomination papers contained 33 signatures.
Ten of them were registered voters, but not residents of the 5th ward.
Four others on the list, including Woodward's younger brother weren't registered at all.
As it stands tonight, according to McCarthy, Beau Woodward is one valid signature short of qualifying for the ballot.
Our calls to Abernathy and Woodward were not returned today.
