Ballot titles

Harrison Shephard at the LA Daily News takes a look at all the various ballot titles that candidates use. One of the candidates in the race for the Assembly District 41 seat lists himself on the ballot as a "national security analyst." But he doesn't work for the government or a think tank. He describes his occupation that way for the June primary because he provides unpaid articles and research for anti-illegal immigration groups. Another candidate in the same race calls himself an "author." But he's published just one story in an anthology. An activist for disability issues, he supports himself primarily through public disability assistance payments. Then there's the candidate who calls herself a "city women's commissioner." But she makes her living by running a political communications business and resigned from the commission three months ago. The situation just a sampling of candidate occupation titles from area races illustrates a long-standing problem voters will face in the June primary: Some candidates are little-known and what's allowed on the ballot to describe a person's occupation can be subject to heavy spin.