Odds don't favor latest Yorba Linda recall
While recall talk hasn’t been uncommon in Yorba Linda’s 45-year history, none of the 30 individuals elected to City Council positions has ever faced voters on a recall ballot, despite six members being served with “intent to recall” notices in the last 13 years.
One factor accounts for the lack of success of past recalls: residents who oppose council members on individual issues don’t necessarily favor removing them from office before their terms expire, unless serious evidence of malfeasance or misconduct is established.
So, the odds--based on past experience--favor John Anderson, who was served with his recall notice during the public comment portion of a council meeting earlier this month. Even if sufficient signatures are gathered on a recall petition, he’s likely to survive a vote.
Past recall efforts have sputtered out before or during the signature gathering stage. Either the individuals or groups supporting a recall couldn’t recruit enough foot soldiers to button-hole shoppers at local supermarkets and shopping centers or the requirement for signatures from 20 percent of registered voters proved too high a barrier.
Easier to accomplish are initiatives and referendums. An initiative proposes a new law, such as the right-to-vote on major land-use changes measure that passed in 2006, and a referendum challenges existing law, such as the 1970 reversal of a zone for apartments.
The most recent recall targets were Allen Castellano, Ken Ryan, Keri Wilson and Jim Winder in 2006 over their votes on issues related to a since-withdrawn redevelopment plan for Old Town. Each was served with a legal notice that was properly published in the Yorba Linda Star, but the petition phase didn’t get off the ground.
The most notable target was John Gullixson, who served three council terms, 1990-2002. He was twice handed notices, in 1993 and 1999, while sitting at the dais during a session.
The 1993 notice was served by a former four-term council member, Irwin Fried, over Gullixson’s campaign for a high school in Yorba Linda and resulting friction with the school district.
The 1999 notice was served by David Baker, an early incorporation leader, over various issues related to the ouster of 27-year City Manager Art Simonian. Fried abandoned his effort, and Baker’s, supported by council veteran Hank Wedaa, died after a few months.
In the current case, expect an expensive, hard-fought contest for council seats now held by Nancy Rikel, Mark Schwing and Jim Winder, especially if an Anderson recall gathers nearly 9,000 valid signatures and appears on the Nov. 6 ballot with potential replacement candidates.
Winder is termed out, but Rikel is expected to seek a second and Schwing a fifth term. The latter two joined Anderson in the 3-2 vote to replace Brea police with the county Sheriff’s Department in May 2013.
Interestingly, the domain name yorbalindarecall.com was registered on April 29 by Tony Bushala, a Fullerton businessman and recall leader of three councilmen in that city. First post was a cartoon drawing of a police officer and headline “Good luck with that.”
One factor accounts for the lack of success of past recalls: residents who oppose council members on individual issues don’t necessarily favor removing them from office before their terms expire, unless serious evidence of malfeasance or misconduct is established.
So, the odds--based on past experience--favor John Anderson, who was served with his recall notice during the public comment portion of a council meeting earlier this month. Even if sufficient signatures are gathered on a recall petition, he’s likely to survive a vote.
Past recall efforts have sputtered out before or during the signature gathering stage. Either the individuals or groups supporting a recall couldn’t recruit enough foot soldiers to button-hole shoppers at local supermarkets and shopping centers or the requirement for signatures from 20 percent of registered voters proved too high a barrier.
Easier to accomplish are initiatives and referendums. An initiative proposes a new law, such as the right-to-vote on major land-use changes measure that passed in 2006, and a referendum challenges existing law, such as the 1970 reversal of a zone for apartments.
The most recent recall targets were Allen Castellano, Ken Ryan, Keri Wilson and Jim Winder in 2006 over their votes on issues related to a since-withdrawn redevelopment plan for Old Town. Each was served with a legal notice that was properly published in the Yorba Linda Star, but the petition phase didn’t get off the ground.
The most notable target was John Gullixson, who served three council terms, 1990-2002. He was twice handed notices, in 1993 and 1999, while sitting at the dais during a session.
The 1993 notice was served by a former four-term council member, Irwin Fried, over Gullixson’s campaign for a high school in Yorba Linda and resulting friction with the school district.
The 1999 notice was served by David Baker, an early incorporation leader, over various issues related to the ouster of 27-year City Manager Art Simonian. Fried abandoned his effort, and Baker’s, supported by council veteran Hank Wedaa, died after a few months.
In the current case, expect an expensive, hard-fought contest for council seats now held by Nancy Rikel, Mark Schwing and Jim Winder, especially if an Anderson recall gathers nearly 9,000 valid signatures and appears on the Nov. 6 ballot with potential replacement candidates.
Winder is termed out, but Rikel is expected to seek a second and Schwing a fifth term. The latter two joined Anderson in the 3-2 vote to replace Brea police with the county Sheriff’s Department in May 2013.
Interestingly, the domain name yorbalindarecall.com was registered on April 29 by Tony Bushala, a Fullerton businessman and recall leader of three councilmen in that city. First post was a cartoon drawing of a police officer and headline “Good luck with that.”
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 AM
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