Local News in Brief : Irvine : Anti-Cosgrove Group Seeks Court Action

In their latest attempt to unseat City Councilman Cameron Cosgrove, a group of conservative activists has taken legal action to force a special election.

Thomas Jones, an attorney for Irvine Pride, requested that the state attorney general consent to the group’s case being heard in Superior Court. If the attorney general’s office finds that the group’s arguments are legitimate, rather than political harassment, the case would go to court.

Cosgrove was third in the race for two City Council seats last June. On the same ballot, however, Councilman Larry Agran ran for mayor and won. Under the city’s charter, the two years remaining in Agran’s council term had to go to the leading vote-getter among the council runners-up--in this case, Cosgrove.

But voters also approved Measure D on the June ballot, which allows voters to challenge the appointment of a runner-up like Cosgrove. If enough voters petition within 10 days after the election, a special election would be held to file the unexpired council term. Such a petition was certified after the June election.

Cosgrove, an ally of Agran, has argued that the measure cannot be applied retroactively to his appointment to the council. Agran has labeled Irvine Pride’s move political harassment.

Members of the group argue that voters should decide whether they want Cosgrove on the council.