SEAL BEACH : Early Vote Sought on Hellman Housing

A citizens group backed by Mola Development Corp. announced plans Tuesday to attempt to force a special election to decide whether the company should be permitted to build 329 houses on the Hellman Ranch property.

The group gathered more than 4,000 signatures with the intent of calling a special election. But because the petition did not specifically request a special election, the council could wait until the next general election in March, 1992, to place the matter on the ballot, the city clerk said.

Leaders of Seal Beach Citizens for Parks, Open Space and Responsible Government said Tuesday that if the council votes for a special election at its Feb. 11 meeting, the group will pay the costs of the election, which are estimated at $40,000 to $50,000.

If the council votes for a special election Feb. 25, when the city attorney is scheduled to deliver an analysis of the group’s initiative, the group offered to pay up to $25,000 in election costs.

If no action is taken by Feb. 25, committee leaders said, they plan to recirculate petitions with the intent of forcing a special election by midsummer.

“The only issue the council needs to address,” committee co-chairman Chris Verhulst wrote in a letter to council members, “is whether to accept a good-faith offer by Seal Beach Citizens for Parks, Open Space and Responsible Government to provide payment for the costs of holding this special election, or instead to force the taxpayers of Seal Beach to pay those and other costs.” Councilwomen Gwen Forsythe and Marilyn Bruce Hastings said they could not comment on whether they would support a special election until after consulting with the city attorney.

But some city leaders said that offering to pay for the election could backfire on the group and Mola, its principal financial backer. Hastings and Councilman Frank Laszlo said it seems improper for Mola to contribute to an election that will determine whether its project is built.

“It seems to me that people might say ‘What is this? Mola is buying an election?’ ” Hastings said.

Mola has acknowledged that it financially supports the group, which includes Mayor Edna Wilson, Councilman Joe Hunt and many former mayors and City Council members.

Hunt said he favors calling a special election because he believes that the intent of the petition is clear and because the sooner the project is built, the sooner it will begin generating revenue for the redevelopment agency.

Wilson could not be reached for comment.