East Palo Alto councilman accused of electioneering prevails in court case

The latest addition to the East Palo Alto City Council won his seat by just 69 votes. And now, Antonio Lopez has won a case brought against him after the court found that he did not violate election laws with a taco giveaway near a vote center.

Lopez beat candidate Webster Lincoln for the third and final seat on the City Council in the Nov. 3 election. Following the certified election results in December, Lincoln contested the outcome and filed suit against Lopez with the San Mateo County Superior Court, accusing him of electioneering, defined in state law as a visible display or audible dissemination of information that advocates for or against a candidate within 100 feet of a vote center. Lincoln claimed that Lopez gave away free tacos as an incentive for votes.