Reserve the Recall for Serious Misdeeds : Agoura Hills’ Fran Pavley was just doing her job when she voted for a 4% utility tax

An ill-considered recall drive, one of several in Southern California this year, is aimed at Fran Pavley, probably the most prominent member of the Agoura Hills City Council.

The recall is embroiled in a court challenge over a filing deadline. The council decided last week to appeal a ruling that would allow the election. Even if the appeal loses, it will push the vote into next year.

This recall effort follows the pattern of several others, in that the punishment far exceeds the alleged crime. Dumping an elected official ought to be reserved for drastic misbehavior, such as unethical or illegal acts. Policy disagreements should be settled in regular elections, not in expensive, divisive special elections that generally revolve around a single issue.

Pavley, a schoolteacher with a strong environmentalist background, was Agoura Hills’ first mayor and has served on the City Council throughout its 13-year existence.

Her supposed misdeed was voting to impose a 4% tax on utility bills to cover a $1-million budget shortfall.

The utility tax fell within the bounds of responsible legislation to preserve essential services. More than one-third of California cities have such taxes, and the vast majority are higher than 4%.

Elected officials must govern. Difficult at best, this becomes practically impossible if every controversial vote--every one of consequence--threatens to incite a recall drive.

The Pavley recall is pointless on other grounds. Since the council’s tax vote was unanimous, recalling Pavley will not reverse it. The overwrought recall backers originally targeted the entire City Council, but the signature-collectors flopped on the other four. Pavley does not intend to run for reelection, so the recall’s maximum effect would be to shorten her term by less than two years.

Agoura Hills does not have the only case of recall fever. Pro-gun interests last year targeted state Sen. David A. Roberti in a gratifyingly dismal failure. In Cypress, a group wants to yank three members of the City Council whose mortal sin was approving a carpet warehouse.

A few years back, a book on schools was called “Shut Up and Let the Lady Teach.” An appropriate slogan for some California cities would be “Ease Up and Let the Government Govern.” If citizens don’t want their civic life reduced to a series of single-issue referendums, they need to spurn frivolous requests for recall-petition signatures and respond to efforts like this one with a thoughtful kick in the pants.