Agoura Hills : Court Rules Against Recall Supporters

The state Court of Appeals on Thursday denied a request to order the city of Agoura Hills to schedule a November recall election against City Councilwoman Fran Pavley.

In denying the appeal by the group trying to oust Pavley, the court ruled that another appeal filed earlier by the city must be heard before a recall election can take place.

The city wants the court to overturn Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Diane Wayne’s decision in June that upheld a recount of 94 recall petition signatures that had been deemed invalid. The recount allowed the recall petition to succeed, producing 2,436 valid signatures against Pavley, more than the 2,405 needed to force a recall election.

Some signatures had been deemed invalid because voter registration cards were filed after the deadline set under the state elections code. Agoura Hills City Atty. Greg Stepanicich said Wayne’s decision--which forced the city clerk to accept the late registrations--was contrary to the code.

Stepanicich said Thursday it is unlikely the court will rule on the city’s appeal in time to schedule a November recall election. Pavley, whose term expires in two years, has said she will not seek reelection.

Barbara Murphy, the leader of the recall effort against Pavley, said she was disappointed with Thursday’s ruling.

“Now it’s going to require a special election, and that’s going to waste more taxpayer money,” said Murphy.