Mission Viejo Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht, who sued the city over its ballot argument for the Right to Vote initiative, now wants the city to reimburse her $70 for mileage and parking expenses she incurred last month by attending the court hearing on the suit.

Schlict filed the suit along with several others who are in favor of the initiative that will in many ways take zoning authority out of the city council’s hands. Judge Luis Rodriguez concluded that two sentences in the argument were misleading and had them struck so they would not appear in information distributed by the Registrar of Voters.

City Manager Dennis Wilberg denied Schlicht’s request for reimbursement because Schlicht filed the legal challenge as a private citizen and not a council member. Schlicht said she was in court to represent the people of the city as a council member and should therefore be reimbursed.

Council will decide whether Schlicht gets her reimbursement at its May 3 meeting.

— ADAM ELMAHREK

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