Rancho Palos Verdes to Ask Another City for Election Help

Citing the appearance of a conflict for City Clerk Jo Purcell, the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council agreed Tuesday to ask neighboring Rolling Hills Estates to run its November municipal election.

Purcell is married to Councilman Robert Ryan, whose fourth term expires this year. He has yet to announce if he will seek reelection Nov. 14.

The clerk’s election-related duties include checking the validity of signatures on nominating petitions, reviewing candidates’ statements of qualification, which remain confidential until the August 11 filing deadline, and participating in any recount.

Actual vote counting and ballot collection on election day is done by the county’s registrar-recorder. City Atty. Ariel Calonne told the council that while there may be no real conflict, the public may perceive a conflict. “It’s a public appearance issue,” he said. The council’s vote was unanimous. City officials felt it was prudent to contract for the services now, rather than wait for Ryan’s decision.

Rolling Hills Estates City Manager Ray Taylor said he did not foresee any problem handling the electoral tasks for Rancho Palos Verdes. The council will decide the matter once a formal request has been received, he said.

“I think it’s do-able,” he said. “I haven’t analyzed what the cost would be, but it’s a fairly easy task to issue and receive nominating petitions, check signatures, check candidate statements” and have the registrar-recorder place the names and statements on the ballot.

Rolling Hills Estates will hold its own general municipal election Nov. 14.