Drive to Recall Bacharach Started

A citizens group has begun a recall campaign against Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor Pro Tem Jacki Bacharach.

The drive was announced during the public comment period of Tuesday’s City Council meeting, where former Planning Commissioner Luella Wike presented Bacharach with a notice of intention to circulate the recall petition. The petition criticizes Bacharach for having a “tax and spend” mentality and alleges that she has twice made back-room arrangements with others on the council to prevent Councilman John McTaggart from assuming the honorary post of mayor.

Bacharach, who apparently did not know a campaign to remove her from the council was under way, said, “My record speaks for itself.” She criticized the accuracy of the petitioners.

Although only three residents’ names are listed as proponents, recall committee treasurer John Arand said in a telephone interview that there is citywide support for the recall.

Arand said Bacharach’s voting record on high-density residential projects and her support of a lapsed utility tax are several of the issues upsetting residents. He described as the “last straw” the treatment of McTaggart, who for two years has been in line for the largely ceremonial mayoral post, but has been rejected Bacharach, Councilman Mel Hughes and current Mayor Douglas Hinchliffe.

The petition alleges that secret agreements on how to vote for mayor and mayor pro tem were made by Bacharach, Hughes and Hinchliffe that violate the state open meeting law. Hughes and Hinchliffe are not targets of the recall because they say this is their last term on the council, Arand said.

Bacharach, Hughes and Hinchliffe have said they excluded McTaggart from serving as mayor because they felt he had breached the faith of the council by not disclosing Councilman Robert Ryan’s secret wedding to City Clerk Jo Purcell in 1987.

McTaggart said he was not aware of the recall until it was announced at Tuesday’s meeting.

The petitioners must collect signatures of 20% of the city’s registered voters in about 120 days of filing the notice of recall with the city, Purcell said. The notice has not yet been filed.