Contender for Malibu Seat Leaves Hospital

A contender for a contested seat on Malibu’s future City Council who suffered a mild stroke last Friday was reported to be in good condition Monday after being released from Santa Monica Hospital.

John J. Merrick, 71, a retired Municipal Court judge, was resting comfortably at home after his release from the hospital, his wife, Marge, said.

Merrick was said to be trailing slow-growth activist Missy Zeitsoff by a single vote Monday, with an unknown number of absentee and write-in ballots from last week’s incorporation election yet to be counted.

In addition to approving cityhood by a wide margin, Malibu voters chose a five-member council. But the race between Zeitsoff and Merrick for the fifth seat on the council continued to be so close that a spokesman for the Los Angeles County registrar’s office said it may be Thursday before the winner is known.