ELECTIONS : Torrance Mayor Calls for Term Limits Study : Campaign: Katy Geissert also wants to look at appointing the treasurer and clerk. Council challengers accuse her of stealing their thunder before tonight’s televised candidate forum.

With less than a week to go in a hotly contested City Council campaign, Torrance Mayor Katy Geissert has recommended that the city study two ideas stirring debate in the race--setting term limits for council members and changing the way the city selects its treasurer and clerk.

Geissert wants a citizens committee to study whether the treasurer and clerk, who are now elected, should be appointed instead. The panel, whose members would be picked by the council after Tuesday’s election, would also consider whether council members should continue to be allowed an unlimited number of four-year terms.

Since the three changes would require amendments to the City Charter, they could only take effect if voters approve them in a subsequent election.

In Tuesday’s election, incumbent councilmen Timothy Mock and George Nakano will compete with eight other candidates for three at-large seats on the council. Incumbent Dan Walker is leaving the council to run for state Assembly.

Geissert’s proposal, made Tuesday, comes as the eight council challengers are endorsing a two-term limit on City Council members, saying it will bring sorely needed new ideas and energy to City Hall.

Five of the challengers, meanwhile, are calling for an appointed treasurer. Their position comes in reaction to reports that Torrance is missing $6.2 million that it entrusted to an Irvine investment adviser who has been charged with securities fraud.

Several of the challengers asserted Wednesday that Geissert’s proposal was intended to preempt their plans to plug term limits and other reforms at a televised candidates forum scheduled for 7 tonight.

“What I think she’s trying to do is limit what the challengers can say about what will happen if they get elected,” said challenger Mark Hamblett. “To me it seems rather obvious and blatant.”

Said challenger Ronald Ellis: “She’s stealing some of our thunder as reform candidates.”

But Geissert, who is not up for election, said she is simply trying to bring perspective to recent public debate.

“Because of the crescendo of the discussion that is occurring,” Geissert said, “I thought a rational way to (study) this would be to take time away from an election and involve a balanced citizens committee in the discussion.”

Geissert said that she has not decided if the treasurer and clerk should be appointed or if term limits should be instituted. Nonetheless, she said, she supports having the topic explored.

At Tuesday’s council meeting, she asked city staff members to prepare a resolution so her proposal to create a citizens panel can be put to a council vote on March 10. She suggested that the committee consist of up to 15 people, including representatives of homeowners groups, the business community and public interest groups, such as the Torrance League of Women Voters.

Should the committee recommend changing the city charter, Geissert said, its proposals could be put on the November general election ballot.

Less than two years ago a call for similar charter reform went unheeded. In June, 1990, the League of Women Voters recommended that the city consider term limits, selection of the treasurer and clerk and other changes.

But that request was rejected by a three-member council committee.

Even now, it is unclear how many council members would support such charter changes.

Mock criticized term limits and changes in the clerk’s and treasurer’s posts, calling the moves “anti-democratic and elitist.” He said he would vote for the charter study March 10 only if it is broadened to encompass two other topics including campaign finance reform.

And Councilman Mark Wirth said he would oppose a study of term limits but would support a charter committee to look at the treasurer’s and clerk’s positions.

State Assembly candidate Walker said he is now inclined to support term limits and an appointed city treasurer, although he still favors an elected city clerk.

Councilwoman Dee Hardison said the 1990 proposal was much broader and she will take Geissert’s plan under consideration.

Councilman Bill Applegate said he supports all three changes and, in fact, thinks the council should move ahead and place the question on the November ballot.

“We don’t need a committee of people to put it there,” said Applegate, who is in his fourth council term.

Fueling the questions about the treasurer’s selection process this year are recent disclosures that $6.2 million of city funds are missing in a scandal involving Steven Wymer, an Irvine-based investment adviser who invested money for Torrance and other cities. Wymer has pleaded innocent to charges of securities fraud.

Torrance City Treasurer Thomas C. Rupert, who is responsible for the city’s investments, has not been accused of wrongdoing. But some council members and candidates have questioned his hiring of Wymer and other investment decisions.

Rupert, who has served as treasurer for 28 years, was last elected in 1990. He is currently on sick leave for what is described as a stress-related illness and has filed a claim with the city for workers’ compensation benefits.

The City Council has allocated up to $300,000 in legal fees and other costs to attempt to recoup some or all of the missing millions.