The city of Avenal, California, is facing an unprecedented political crisis after four of five city council members were recalled by voters in April but have refused to leave office, alleging the election was improperly conducted.
The recall, which organizers say is a first in California, has left the community of 13,500 deeply divided. The recalled officials have continued holding meetings, overseeing city business, and suing in an effort to invalidate the results.
Recall results rejected
In April, voters overwhelmingly backed the recall of mayor Alvaro Preciado and city council members Leticia Gamez, David Reynosa and Pablo Hernandez. However, the officials have remained in office, arguing that recall organizers misled people when seeking signatures and that the election was unlawfully administered by the county.
The city has taken legal action to dispute the results, suing the recall organizers and the county. The conflict has intensified, with recent local meetings rocked by infighting and the city accusing recall supporters of using racist language.
Broader implications
Zev Yaroslavsky, director of the Los Angeles initiative at the UCLA Luskin school of public affairs, said the situation undermines the recall process itself. "If every successful recall is challenged by the people who are recalled, on whatever basis, it undermines the whole purpose of the recall process itself," he said. "When does it end?"
Yaroslavsky, who served in elected office in Los Angeles for 40 years, said he had never heard of recalled officials remaining in office and that the idea that a court would overturn election results was "unprecedented."
Roots of the conflict
The dispute began when the city decided to create its own fire department last year, moving away from county services. The decision hit a nerve, as residents had deep ties to the county fire department, said Ginger Wallis, a recall organizer now running for council.
The county district attorney eventually sued Avenal, alleging the council committed multiple Brown Act violations by discussing plans about proposed city fire services during closed-session meetings. The Kings county district attorney has begun investigating the matter, and the California attorney general has approved a quo warranto lawsuit to resolve the dispute.
Recall organizer Delila Barajas, now running for city council, said she saw "a lot of disrespect to our community" from council members, who she alleged filed their nails, used their phones, and spoke to one another during public meetings.
Community tensions
During a June city council session, tensions erupted with angry residents urging the officials to leave office. An unsigned communique on the city's Facebook page condemned what it described as violent threats and racist remarks from recall supporters.
City manager Antony López wrote on Facebook that the recall effort was "built on hate, not accountability." Recall supporters have said the allegations are an effort to distract from the issue of recalled council members who will not leave office.
Outside the Avenal Theater last week, about 20 residents gathered ahead of a scheduled city council meeting, which was canceled. Rae Packwood, a lifelong Avenal resident, said she wanted to hear how the council members justified remaining in their seats. "Everyone here is totally against them," she said.
