Mayor Urges Petrikin to Quit or Face Ouster

Mayor Laurann Cook on Friday urged Councilman James D. Petrikin to “resign with honor” or face losing his seat for allegedly living outside the city limits.

“I have asked Jim Petrikin to resign and he tells me he will not resign,” Cook said. “I said to him, ‘Jim, you need to resign with dignity.’ ”

Petrikin, 58, may have disqualified himself from the council by signing real estate documents in December listing the “Lazy J. Ranch” in Northern California as his “principal dwelling,” according to the city attorney’s office.

State election codes require council members to live in the cities they represent.

If they move outside the city, the council can declare the seat vacant and remove the official from office, City Atty. Alan R. Burns said in a report.

Petrikin sold his Fountain Valley home last year and has stayed locally with friends, which is permitted by law, Councilman John J. Collins said. Once Petrikin signed the papers, however, he forfeited official residency in Fountain Valley, Collins said.

“He lives in this other city, Garden Valley,” Collins said. “Jim officially vacated his seat.”

Since being reelected to his third term in 1996, Petrikin has been the subject of controversy.

He missed about a dozen meetings, was convicted recently of drunk driving and is the subject of a recall campaign.

Petrikin could not be reached for comment Friday. But in an interview earlier this year, he said he lives in an apartment in Fountain Valley and considers the ranch a vacation home.

He cited medical problems for his repeated absences, vowed to improve his attendance and continue to the end of his term in 2000.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 10200 Slater Ave.

Information: (714) 593-4445.