W. Hollywood Begins Hunt for Successor to Terrigno

West Hollywood city officials have begun the delicate political process of seeking a replacement for Councilwoman Valerie Terrigno, who was convicted Friday of embezzling $9,000 in federal funds.

Although the jury’s verdict--Terrigno was found guilty on 12 embezzlement counts--will not force the councilwoman’s immediate resignation, she will remain in office only until U.S. District Judge Laughlin Waters formally enters a judgment against her.

Such judgments are often entered at the time of sentencing, but according to West Hollywood City Manager Paul Brotzman, a judgment could be entered before Terrigno’s April 30 sentencing date. He added that the judge also can postpone entering a judgment if there is an appeal.

“Right now, we’re going on the assumption that a judgment will be entered by the sentencing date,” Brotzman said.

Terrigno, 32, who had served last year as West Hollywood’s first mayor, declined to comment on the verdict or the possibility of an appeal. She was indicted last October on 14 counts of embezzling funds intended for Hollywood’s poor while she ran a counseling agency on Sunset Boulevard.

Faces 10 Years in Prison

Two counts were later dropped, but the federal jury decided that Terrigno had altered checks, created a personal bank account and juggled federal food vouchers for personal gain. She faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

Once a judgment is entered, the remaining four City Council members must decide whether to appoint a successor or hold a special election.

The council’s decision may be complicated by several factors, including the outcome of the city’s April 8 election, the potential cost of holding a special election and the nature of political rivalries in West Hollywood.

Three incumbents--Mayor John Heilman and council members Helen Albert and Stephen Schulte--are up for reelection against seven challengers. Several candidates and officials said Saturday that they did not expect the council to take up the matter of Terrigno’s successor until after the election, although the conviction was a main topic in most conversations in campaign headquarters.

“I can’t imagine any of the council members wanting to get involved in finding a replacement for Valerie until after the election,” Brotzman said.

Councilwoman Albert said she would prefer a special election. “I don’t think it would look right to the community for us to appoint a fifth member,” she said. She added that Terrigno’s conviction was “an unfortunate situation, but it doesn’t reflect badly on the city. This happened before we ever incorporated.”

Larry Gross, director of the Coalition for Economic Survival, a tenant activist group that claims both Albert and Heilman as members, questioned the added costs of a special election. “I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who might worry about the expenditures the city would have to make,” he said.

Brotzman said that the April 8 election will cost the city about $45,000. But with a first-year budget surplus estimated at more than $6 million, he added that “the city could afford to hold a special election, no question.”