This morning the City Clerk held the random drawing to determine the order that names will appear on the March ballot in Los Angeles. Names starting with Z will lead the ballot. The deadline to file has passed, by the way — so it's too late for the Zelmans, Zahnisers and Zuma Doggs to take advantage. Oh wait, Zuma Dogg is already on the ballot — but under his real name.

RANDOM ALPHABET DRAWING RESULTS TO DETERMINE CANDIDATE ORDER
ON THE BALLOT FOR THE 2009 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Los Angeles Interim City Clerk Karen E. Kalfayan announced that a public drawing was held today, Wednesday, December 10, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. in the City Council Chamber, Room 340 of Los Angeles City Hall, to determine the alphabetical order that candidates’ names will appear on the ballot for the March 3, 2009, Primary Nominating Election and the May 19, 2009, General Municipal Election (in the event of a run-off). The random sequence in which the alphabet letters were drawn constitutes the order that the candidates’ last names for the various City of Los Angeles, Board of Education and Community College elected offices will be listed on the ballot.

1. Z 8. Q 15. L 22. V
2. A 9. W 16. Y 23. S
3. N 10. J 17. E 24. P
4. B 11. K 18. G 25. I
5. T 12. U 19. O 26. R
6. F 13. H 20. D
7. M 14. C 21. X

Signature verification on candidates’ nominating petitions is expected to be completed by Saturday, December 13, 2008. The final list of candidates who have qualified for the March 3, 2009 ballot will be certified in the above random alphabetical order.