A Broward judge granted an emergency injunction Thursday morning which removes Plantation City Council candidate Francis J. Petrocelli from the November ballot. The case, brought by candidate H.Wayne Clark, alleged Petrocelli violated State law by failing to use his legal name on his qualifying paperwork. The emergency meeting was held due to ballots being printed next week.

Francis J. Petrocelli filed his qualifying paperwork earlier this year.When asked to provide his legal name, Petrocelli wrote “Rico Petrocelli.” State law allows nicknames under certain circumstances, but a candidate must sign an affidavit stating it is a nickname. Petrocelli did not fill out the affidavit. He even signed the paperwork as “Rico Petrocelli” with an accompanying smiley face.

During a Thursday morning Zoom hearing, Petrocelli admitted to the judge that his legal name is not “Rico Petrocelli” and he improperly filled his candidate paperwork. Petrocelli admitted he made no attempt to cure his mistakes.

When asked why he did not bring the case earlier, Wayne Clark said a social media post by Petrocelli proved Rico is not his real name.

In an August Facebook post, Petrocelli offered back to school notary public services. Petrocelli included a photograph of his offical State of Florida notary public certificate. The name on the certificate is Francis J. Petrocelli.