Petition Cleared for Council Recall
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A Torrance judge has ruled that a community group can circulate a recall petition against Rolling Hills Estates City Councilman Jerome Belsky, despite Belsky’s contention that the petition is libelous.
Superior Court Judge J. Gary Hastings on Wednesday did not renew a temporary restraining order issued in early April by Superior Court Judge John P. Shook that prohibited circulation of the recall petition. The petition charged that Belsky had tainted the council’s image through improper business dealings in the city with other council members.
Hastings ruled that the group’s First Amendment right to circulate the petition supersedes the potential threat of libel against Belsky. Recall backers have until mid-July to collect about 2,400 signatures to put Belsky’s recall on the ballot. They said they plan to begin circulating petitions immediately.
Belsky’s lawyer, Jerome Bleiweis, said the petitions will “do nothing more than to further publish the defamatory statements.”
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