Councilman Rejected for Mayor : Government: For the second year, the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council majority steers ceremonial position away from John McTaggart.

John McTaggart, snubbed by his colleagues on the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council last year in his quest to be mayor, was rejected again this week.

McTaggart, who had been mayor pro tem for the past year, should have automatically assumed the honorary post of mayor Tuesday night during a regularly scheduled council meeting. That, anyway, is customary procedure in the city.

But for the second year in a row, McTaggart’s foes on the council, who happen to constitute the majority, decided to give the job to one of their own and handed the gavel to Douglas M. Hinchliffe.

Outgoing Mayor Melvin W. Hughes nominated Hinchliffe for the mayor’s job and was supported by Councilwoman Jacki Bacharach and Hinchliffe. Bacharach became the new mayor pro tem.

“I am extremely disgusted at you, Mr. Hughes,” McTaggart.

“The voters of this city gave me the most votes in two elections. It is very unfortunate you feel we have to have a 3-2 council. I think you’ve let the voters down.”

Hughes did not elaborate on the nomination. And Hinchliffe declined to respond to attacks directed against him by McTaggart and Councilman Robert E. Ryan, a close friend of McTaggart.

However, Hinchliffe did say there had been a “violation of trust” on the council, an apparent reference to the secret 1987 wedding of Ryan to City Clerk Jo Purcell, which McTaggart witnessed.

McTaggart did not tell anyone about the marriage, which irritated his colleagues when they learned of the wedding a year later. McTaggart apparently still hasn’t been forgiven.

Ryan had some angry words for the council majority. “I think this city has been run by the Gang of Three long enough,” he said. “I can assure you, Mr. Hinchliffe, that you will have my undying uncooperation.”

Bacharach admitted the council doesn’t get along as well as it should. But, she added: “We weren’t elected to like each other.”