FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Veteran Councilmen Discuss City’s Future

Voters reelected two incumbents to the City Council, despite claims by a challenger and some residents that Councilman George B. Scott has served too long.

Scott, 60, was elected to the council for the sixth time and will be serving his third consecutive term.

Mayor James D. Petrikin, 52, who was first elected in 1988, won another four years on the council.

Voters in 1984 passed a measure to limit terms to two consecutive terms. But a recent court decision invalidated a similar ordinance in La Palma.

“I don’t believe in term limits,” Scott said.

He added that if citizens don’t want him to serve, “they can go to the ballot and get rid of me. But they didn’t.”

Scott, who was first elected in 1969 and held the post to 1978 and then ran again in 1984, said he is glad voters gave him another chance to serve.

“I want to maintain the quality of life we have here in the city,” Scott said. “I’m going to continue doing the same thing by bringing in business to keep the money coming into the coffers so we don’t have to reduce services.”

The councilmen said the city has not suffered as much as other municipalities as a result of cuts in the state budget because the council imposed a hiring freeze and has managed to secure sales tax revenue by bringing in business.

“We’re just maintaining the hiring freeze and remaining as frugal as we can,” Scott said. “Right now, we’re just holding our own.”

Petrikin also said the toughest challenge ahead is the possibility of further state budget cuts.

Scott said he’ll likely retire when his term is up--after tallying up 25 years of public service.

“Twenty-five years out of my life--I think that’s enough,” he said.