Judge sides with Orlando in election suit

A federal judge ruled Friday that an Orange County man’s lawsuit against Orlando over last year’s City Council election can’t go forward.

Vibert White sued after Orlando City Clerk Alana Brenner refused to put his name on the ballot to run against Commissioner Daisy Lynum in the spring 2010 election. Brenner said White had not shown adequate proof that he’d been a resident and registered voter in the district for at least a year, as required by the city charter.

White, an associate professor of history at the University of Central Florida, challenged the constitutionality of the city charter requirements.

But U.S. District Judge John Antoon II ruled that White doesn’t have grounds to challenge the city charter because he not only doesn’t live in the City Council district, but he doesn’t even live in Orlando.

Antoon wrote in an order issued Friday that Orlando officials “presented abundant evidence” that White actually resides outside city limits in unincorporated Orange County, and not in a house he claimed to rent from the mother of his campaign manager.

Attorney Scott Gabrielson, who represented Orlando in the case, said city officials hadn’t decided whether to seek legal fees and costs from White, who couldn’t be reached for comment.

mschlueb@tribune.com or 407-420-5417