An Orange County judge removed three of five Mission Viejo city councilors on Aug. 31, after they remained in office beyond the two-year terms they were elected for.
OC Superior Court Judge Walter Schwarm ordered Mayor Wendy Bucknum, Mayor Pro Tem Ed Sachs, and Councilman Greg Raths to vacate their seats by Wednesday evening. Schwarm left 30 days to allow the defendants to seek an appeal or for the appellate court to issue a ruling.
“I’m disappointed,” Raths said. “I like serving my community, but if it’s what the judge says I’ll go along with [it] and run for re-election in November.”…