City Council Candidate Arrested On Election Felony: OCDA

FULLERTON, CA — A man whose name will appear on the general ballot for Fullerton residents was arrested and charged this week on suspicion of perjury for falsifying election documents, county prosecutors said Tuesday.

Fullerton City Council candidate Scott Markowitz was Markowitz was arrested by Orange County District Attorney investigators Monday night and booked into the Santa Ana city jail.

According to the Orange County District Attorney’s office, Markowitz filed paperwork that said he personally collected the 30 signatures required to run for the Fullerton City Council.

“Markowitz attested under penalty of perjury that he personally witnessed the signatures, but numerous voters who signed Markowitz’ nomination paperwork told district attorney investigators that Markowitz was not the circulator of the paperwork, and he did not witness them signing the nomination papers, rendering the signatures invalid,” an OCDA statement said.

He was charged with one felony count of perjury by declaration and one felony count of record of forged or false instrument.

He faces a maximum sentence of three years and eight months in state prison if convicted on all counts, prosecutors said.

Fullerton residents were advised that while Markowitz’ name will appear on their 2024 General Election ballot, he is ineligible to serve on the city council dais.

However, if Markowitz is elected, OC District Attorney Todd Spitzer said the City of Fullerton will hold a special election to determine an eligible candidate for the city council.

“The decision to file criminal charges against the candidate prior to an election is not a decision I made lightly but given the risk to the electoral process as well as the potential of the City of Fullerton having to pay for a special election should Markowitz be elected, there was no choice but to file criminal charges prior to the election and alert voters of his ineligibility to run for City Council,” Spitzer said in a statement.