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A landlord is suing the city of Orange Cove, claiming that town officials are trying to demolish one of her rental properties because she campaigned for her husband, who challenged Mayor Victor Lopez in the last mayoral election.

Lopez and city officials deny the allegation, saying some units on the targeted property have substandard foundations and are hazardous.

The property owner, Sue Jones, said the rentals' foundations are fine and called the city's actions politically motivated.

Manuel Ferreira, Jones' husband, ran against Lopez in 2006, finishing third with 14% of the votes.

"They want this building demolished for no other reason than [Jones] backed [Lopez's] opponent in the last election," said Ty Kharazi, Jones' attorney.

But city administrator Bill Little said there is "no way" the city's actions were politically motivated, given Ferreira's third-place finish.

City officials and Jones, who owns more than 100 rental housing units in the city, have been at odds over her rental complex -- commonly referred to as the Orange Cove Hotel -- for more than a year and a half. It's a series of small detached apartments and bungalows, Jones said.

The city hired two independent building inspectors to examine Jones' rentals after receiving complaints from tenants, Little said. Both inspectors found the foundation on some complex units to be substandard, he said.

Jones said the tenants who complained and picketed in front of her office were two families who owed more than $1,000 in rent. They eventually were evicted, she said.

An arbitrator later ruled there were no foundation code violations at the complex, the suit said.

City staff disagreed with the arbitrator's ruling, which was not binding.

In April 2007, the City Council voted to raze the rentals unless they were corrected, Little said.

Lopez said he has no political vendetta against Jones.

"All we ask is that she rehab her units and make sure they're livable," Lopez said.

The Fresno County Superior Court suit filed by Jones seeks more than $25,000.