Recall Drive Heightens Tensions Between 2 Councilmen : Politics: Scott Diehl blames Thomas Lorch for being behind the effort to oust him and three others in San Clemente. Lorch threatens to file a lawsuit.

SAN CLEMENTE —  With the start of a recall drive in this seaside community, political rancor has reached a higher pitch.

A chronic dispute between two San Clemente council members escalated this week beyond the usual verbal barbs on the dais, with one threatening to sue the other over a written statement on the recall campaign.

Councilman Scott Diehl, who, along with three other council members is the target of the recall, has blamed Councilman Thomas Lorch for being behind the effort to remove them from office.

Diehl wrote in his official response to the recall that it is “a shabby political trick by Councilman Tom Lorch and a handful of his cronies who are trying to force an unnecessary election that will cost the taxpayers $45,000-$50,000.”

In rebuttal, Lorch said he has nothing to do with the drive to oust his council peers, and claimed in a letter to Diehl that his accusation is an “out and out baseless lie, motivated and orchestrated for cheap political expedience because you apparently lack any defense to the recall campaign against you.”

Further, Lorch is threatening to sue Diehl for purported defamation of character and take other legal actions unless Diehl removes his allegation from the official response to the recall. The response would be included on the ballot if the recall effort gets enough petition signatures to be placed on a citywide vote.

“I have absolutely no idea how you can call any of the people engaging in the recall against you my ‘cronies’ when I have no specific political ties, bonds, deals, agreements or influence over those citizens disgusted with your political conduct and votes,” Lorch wrote in his March 15 letter to Diehl.

“I feel I have been discredited and attacked by that man,” Lorch said Wednesday.

Diehl said Wednesday his response to Lorch will depend on his political adversary’s actions.

“At this point, I can’t say what Tom is going to do or not do,” Diehl said. “Tom and I see the world very differently. What is truth to Tom is not what I necessarily believe to be true. I’ll respond to Tom as he moves forward.”

The latest war of words between the two councilmen concerns the broader controversy over the council majority’s recent decision to abolish the city’s 65-year-old Police Department and contract for service from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

The change in law enforcement, targeted for July 1, is expected to save the financially strapped city about $2 million in the first year and increase street patrols. The city, with a $20-million operating budget, is facing a $6.35-million shortfall this coming fiscal year.

Earlier this month, a group calling itself Citizens for a Better San Clemente took formal steps to initiate the recall drive against the four council members who voted for the change in law enforcement.

The group, angered that the issue was not put to a public vote, is also seeking a voter initiative to overturn the council’s decision.

Lorch said he accepted an invitation to attend one public meeting organized by those in support of retaining the Police Department, but left when the group voted to start the recall.

Barry Vick, a business owner who invited Lorch to the meeting, agreed that the latter had “nothing to do with the recall.”

It is possible the matter could be resolved without a lawsuit. There has been talk that the recall group may serve council members with an amended notice of recall, which could require a new response from the targeted council majority.