Candidate Scott Markowitz for District 4 was investigated and charged by Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer’s office with felony perjury on October 15, 2024, for falsifying nomination paperwork. The OCDA investigators said Markowitz did not personally witness all the signatures on his nomination paperwork, although he attested that he had personally witnessed the signatures necessary to qualify him for the November 5, 2024, Fullerton City Council election. As a result, Markowitz has dropped out of the race.

Attorney Ryan Rodriguez, Esq. in a letter to the Observer on October 22, 2024, wrote, “My client, Scott Markowitz, candidate for Fullerton City Council in the November 2024 election, pleaded guilty in court on 10/21/24 to a violation of the California Election Code. He has dropped out of the race and requests that those who have not yet cast their vote please not vote for him.”

Markowitz will receive one day in jail, one year of probation, and 160 hours of community service. Ballots have already been printed with Markowitz’s name as a City Council District 4 candidate. Due to his ineligibility to serve on the City Council, if Markowitz is elected, the City of Fullerton would be forced to hold a special election to elect a candidate eligible to be seated.

Candidates Vivian “Kitty” Jaramillo, Linda Whitaker, and Jamie Valencia for District 4 are still eligible.

The investigation into Markowitz was spurred by a letter from Tony Bushala to the OCDA’s office. In the letter, Bushala expressed conspiracies unrelated to the nomination papers. He also demanded an inquiry by the Orange County Grand Jury into this and other accusations.