Mattock Out, 2 in Limbo as Las Virgenes Directors

Voters in Calabasas and Agoura Hills decided Tuesday to replace one Las Virgenes Municipal Water District director, but the fate of two others remains undecided.

Division 2 incumbent Tad Mattock was defeated by challenger Glen Peterson, 1,667 votes to 1,224, to end a campaign that was acrimonious right up to Election Day.

Two other incumbents whose elections were canceled were left in limbo when County Supervisor Mike Antonovich delayed taking action on appointing them to new four-year terms.

Antonovich withdrew the names of Division 5 Director Ann Dorgelo and Division 3 Director Harold Helsley from the supervisors’ agenda Tuesday as the board prepared to routinely confirm the pair.

The two division elections were canceled after irregularities were discovered in candidate papers. Although Dorgelo qualified to run, her opponent did not. Both Helsley and his opponent also were disqualified for not having enough names on their nominating petitions.

Put on Agenda by Mistake

Aides to Antonovich said the county board’s executive office placed the two names on Tuesday’s agenda “by mistake.” They said Antonovich will fill the posts next week.

“Mike’s options are still open,” Leeta Pistone, his San Fernando Valley deputy, said Wednesday. “There’s no question Ann will be appointed. There are four or five nominees for the other post. Hal Helsley’s among the front-runners, no doubt about that.”

Helsley’s appointment to the water board has been sought by several other water directors who contend that his election disqualification was only a technicality.

Pistone said Antonovich faces no deadline on the appointments, despite the contention by some water officials that he was required to fill the seats by Election Day.

Mattock, who attracted attention with a controversial reelection campaign that included stuffing flyers in water-meter boxes, blamed his defeat on support that Peterson received from Agoura Hills City Hall.

Acting City Manager Felicity Kidd, meanwhile, said Wednesday that the city has asked for a county investigation of alleged balloting irregularities by supporters of Mattock. She said several local businessmen registered to vote Tuesday from addresses in a non-residential commercial zone.