LAWNDALE : Recall Effort Targeting Lagerquist Fails

Organizers of a drive to oust Lawndale Councilman Norm Lagerquist have failed in their bid to force a recall election.

Karen Hesse, a leader of the movement, said she ran out of time to collect about 2,500 signatures needed to move forward with the petition. Supporters of the drive were given 90 days to submit the signatures to city officials, but failed to do so by the 5 p.m. Tuesday deadline, City Clerk Neil Roth said.

“I’m relieved that I can get back to serving the people,” Lagerquist said.

Hesse and others criticized Lagerquist for writing a letter on city stationery on behalf of a former campaign consultant convicted of lewd conduct with a 12-year-old girl.

In April, 1992, Lagerquist wrote to a Long Beach Superior Court judge and asked for leniency in the sentencing of Timothy M. Carey, who pleaded no contest to three counts of committing lewd acts with a friend’s daughter.

Carey, who faced a maximum of 12 years in prison, was sentenced to 180 days in County Jail, five years’ probation and community service.

Lagerquist, who has apologized for using the city letterhead for personal business, defended his character reference.

“I chose not to abandon a friend who, in a moment of weakness, made a tragic mistake,” Lagerquist said. “I in no way support what he did, but I did not believe his life and family should be ruined because of it.”