Local News in Brief : Belsky Recall Is Declared Official

The 12-year council career of Jerome Belsky ended this week as the Rolling Hills Estates City Council accepted certified results from Los Angeles County that he was recalled in the Nov. 8 election.

The council Tuesday declared the seat vacant, scheduling a special election March 21 to fill Belsky’s unexpired term, which ends in November. The council appropriated $10,000 to pay for the election.

Candidates may take out nominating papers at City Hall beginning Dec. 22. The deadline for filing for office is 5 p.m. on Jan. 12.

According to the certified results, 2,223 people voted to recall Belsky, with 1,982 opposed. By a vote of 3,030 to 1,033, citizens favored a special election over letting the council appoint a successor.

The campaign was marked by personal attacks. Each side accused the other of lying. Recall proponents said Belsky verbally abused citizens and maintained a “dictatorship” over the council. Belsky, who was a city planning commissioner for four years before being elected to the council, characterized himself as a man who had “continuously volunteered” time to the community and said the charges against him were not proper grounds for a recall.