Ailing Councilman Petrikin Should Resign, Trustee Says

A school official called on Councilman James D. Petrikin to resign Wednesday, saying his health problems are interfering with his ability to govern.

Huntington Beach Union High School District Trustee Barbara Johnson, who lives in Fountain Valley, said she is concerned that the ailing Petrikin missed too many meetings--five this year--and has been hard to reach.

“If he cannot fulfill the job he was elected to do, he should just step down,” she said. “We have four council members doing the work of five.”

Petrikin, 57, said he has had four recent hip surgeries and spent much of the time recovering in Northern California.

He said he followed doctors’ orders not to travel and missed meetings.

“If I chose to come I was taking a chance at being in a wheelchair,” he said. “Once you’ve had surgery you can’t just get on a plane.”

Petrikin, who attended Tuesday’s council meeting, said his health is improving and he intends to complete his third term, which ends in 2000.

Johnson said she will withdraw her challenge if Petrikin attends meetings and actively resumes his duties.