Judge Rules Against Council Recall Effort

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge Monday upheld a state Court of Appeal decision to throw out several hundred signatures on a recall petition, possibly bringing an end to an attempt to recall members of the City Council.

Judge Diane Wayne ruled that the signatures were invalid on “technicalities,” such as incorrect addresses or names, said Mark Rosen, an attorney who represents Citizens Against New Local Taxes, the group that sought a recall election.

The anti-tax group initiated the effort in 1994, after the council adopted a utility tax without putting it up for a public vote.

Of the four members still on the council, only Ed Corridori, Denis Weber and Fran Pavley could be subject to a recall. Councilwoman Louise Rishoff was reelected last year and therefore exempt.

Weber said he was thrilled with the decision.

“Basically, with a ruling like this, we don’t have to go through a costly and divisive election, though I know they can still appeal,” he said. “But more importantly, it’s got to show people that there was no chicanery on the part of the council.”

Rosen said the group has not decided if it will appeal the decision. “By the time an appeal goes through, the [council member’s] terms may be expired anyway,” he said.

The group sued the city after Agoura Hills and county election officials invalidated hundreds of signatures.

Rosen said the group was ultimately “about 10 to 15 signatures short of having enough.”

Activist Barbara Murphy said the group will now concentrate on its effort to get a refund of the utility taxes paid out. The tax was rescinded by voters in a special election last June.

“Overall, we won,” she said. “We got to vote and we rejected their taxes.”