Betty Rexford recall, Poway, California, 2010
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An effort to recall Betty Rexford from her position on the Poway, California City Council in San Diego County began in August 2009.[1] In August, other Poway City Council members asked Rexford to resign, but she declined.
Steve Vaus is leading the recall effort. He is a Grammy-nominated musician. According to Vaus, Rexford should be recalled because she abused her power in office and wasted $495,000.[1] He hopes to qualify the recall for the June 8, 2010 ballot.
The $495,000 is what the city has paid so far on a lawsuit filed against both the city and Rexford by her neighbors that says she coerced city inspectors and planners into interfering with their building plans. A trial is set on those charges for October 26.[1]
Rexford is serving in her fourth four-year term on the Poway City Council. Her current term ends in November 2010.[2]
Poway, which was incorporated in 1980, has a population of about 48,000. This recall effort is the first in the political history of Poway.[2]
Recall supporters
- Logan Jenkins, a reporter for the San Diego Union Tribune. He writes, "In the past year, the unsinkable community activist has turned into a pathetic public figure who, for her own health if nothing else, should retire from the stage."[3]
Lawsuit details
The lawsuit that lays at the root of the controversy surrounding Rexford was filed by Allen and Dawn Basile and Nathan and Rachel Cannon. They are neighbors of Rexford. In the lawsuit, they say their civil rights were violated by being denied the use of their land. Specific accusations in the lawsuit include:[2]
- The City of Poway, Rexford, her husband, Paul, and former director of development services Niall Fritz abused the city's permit process for five years in such a way that it deprived them of the ability to finish or occupy their homes.
- The Basiles were building a home next to the Rexfords on Creek Road. Rexford objected to the driveway's grading, drainage, lighting and construction noise.
- The Cannons' home had a metal outbuilding across the street from the Rexford home. Betty Rexford didn't like the way it looked.
- The lawsuit says that city decisions between 2004-2007 kept these neighbors out of their homes for more than a year because Rexford was interfering with routine city permit processes on an ongoing basis.
- The lawsuit was filed in 2007.
- Dozens of depositions were taken from city employees and others.
- Federal judge Dana Sabraw ruled in July 2009 that there is ample evidence for the lawsuit to proceed to trial.
- In Sabraw's ruling, he said, "The city endeavored to keep Betty Rexford appraised of circumstances surrounding her neighbors' developments, often directing blind carbon copies of correspondence to, and from, the City to her attention...The evidence raises triable issues of fact as to whether City management solicitously and arbitrarily placed staff and resources at the disposal of Betty Rexford, who, in turn, abused her position to interfere with the Basiles' project."
- One city engineer testified that the Basiles' driveway was “very sensitive” to the Rexfords and “staff cannot go forward and recommend approval without concurrence of the neighbors.”
- Another engineer said in his deposition that Betty Rexford's interest in the Basile project “was extraordinary." He testified that the city's responses to the Rexfords' concerns "were beyond anything (he) had experienced on projects of a similar scope.”
- Based on the federal judge's ruling, the City of Poway settled its part of the lawsuit for $360,000. The part of the lawsuit directed against Betty Rexford is still ongoing. She denies the charges.
Path to the ballot
The first step in the recall process is to collect a minimum of 20 signatures on a notice of intent to circulate a recall petition. The second step is to have a copy of that intent legally served on the recall target. Those steps were accomplished in late August.
The City of Poway must then approve the wording of the recall petition and send it to the county registrar of voters. This approval was granted the week of October 12.[4]
After the petition is approved by the registrar, recall supporters will have 120 days to gather signatures from 20% of the city's registered votes, or 5,657 people.
Recall supporters announced at a November 17 City Council meeting that they have collected 2,243 signatures of the signatures they need to force the recall election.[5]
Neighbors feud
An incident occurred between the Paul Rexford and neighbor Nathan Cannon on Sunday, October 18 that resulted in the filing of police reports. Cannon is one of the Rexford neighbors who filed a lawsuit in federal court against the city of Poway and the Rexfords accusing Rexford of abusing her position in order to delay or interfere with construction of the Cannon's home.[6]
In the incident, middle fingers were raised by both parties in the classic gesture of hostile contempt. This was followed by Paul Rexford alluding to a gun. Both parties indicated to the police that they felt threatened.[6]
See also
External links
- Recall Rexford, official website of the recall
- Official website of the City of Poway
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 North County Times, "Recall drive launched against Poway City Councilwoman Rexford", August 28, 2009
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 San Diego Union Tribune, "Poway recall effort targets Councilwoman Rexford", August 27, 2009
- ↑ San Diego Union Tribune, "It's time for Poway's Rexford to exit the stage", October 12, 2009
- ↑ North County Times, "POWAY: Rexford recall petition OK'd for circulation", October 15, 2009
- ↑ San Diego Union Tribune, "Rexford recall movement gains steam", November 19, 2009
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 San Diego Union Tribune, "Sheriff's Dept. steps in as Rexford feud escalates", October 19, 2009
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