Kathy Salazar and Robert Urteaga recall, Montebello, California (2010)
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An election to decide whether to recall Kathy Salazar and Robert Urteaga from their positions as members of the Montebello City Council will take place in 2010.[1][2] The recall election had been scheduled for February 16; however, the date is under re-consideration because February 16 is the day after President's Day and the state election code says "No election shall be held on any other day other than a Tuesday nor shall it be held on the day of, before, or after a state holiday."[3]
Salazar and Urteaga were targeted for the recall effort because of a July 2008 vote to award an exclusive 15-year contract to haul all of Montebello's trash to a company called Athens Service. The exclusive contract was a dramatic departure from the way garbage was previously handled in Montebello. In the past, refuse was picked up in Montebello's commercial areas by close to a dozen small, independent trash-haulers. It is those small, independent trash-haulers whose livelihoods were threatened by the July 2008 vote who are behind the recall.[4]
Montebello has about 62,000 residents, 25,500 of whom are registered to vote.
Los Angeles County election officials will administer the recall election.
Recall supporters
Those who support the recall are organized in a group called "Save Our City". This group is primarily funded by the small trash-haulers who used to take care of Montebello's trash-removal needs. In the first six months of 2009, this group raised $128,500 in contributions.[4]
Chris Robles is the main spokesperson for the group.[1]
Against Salazar
When a recall action is announced, recall supporters must provide a list of their reasons. The reasons provided on February 13, 2009 by those wanting to recall Salazar were:
- "...allegedly laundering campaign money."
- "...alleged ethical misconduct"
- "...supporting special interests."
Salazar denies these accusations.
An additional reason recall supporters give for removing Salazar from office is that she "used tax dollars to block every effort of the people" to vote on the Montebello trash-hauling contract referendum.[1]
Against Urteaga
Reasons given by recall supporters for removing Urteaga from office include:
- In 1998, he pleaded no contest to grand theft of personal property totaling $30,000.
- "...lying to the public"
- "...supporting special interests."
Recall opposition
Supporters of Salazar and Urteaga have formed a group called "Say No on Recall". This group is almost exclusively funded by Athens Service, the company that was awarded an exclusive 15-year contract by the city council members whose recall is sought.[4] In the first six months of the year, "Say No On Recall" was given $174,250 by Athens.
Path to the ballot
To qualify the recall for the ballot, recall supporters had to collect 5,099 valid signatures, a number equal to 20% of Montebello's 25,496 registered voters. On July 27, signatures were turned in equalling:
- 14,959 to recall Salazar
- 11,871 to recall Urteaga.[4]
On October 4, election officials certified that sufficient signatures had been turned in to trigger a recall election.[2]
See also
- Montebello trash-hauling contract referendum, March 2009
- Recall campaigns in California
- Los Angeles County, California ballot measures
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Montebello recall signatures in the hands of city, county, July 30, 2009
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 San Gabriel Valley Tribune, "Recall on for Montebello City Council", October 5, 2009
- ↑ San Gabriel Valley Tribune, "Montebello recall election date to be reconsidered due to state holiday", October 20, 2009
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Whittier Daily News, "Costs skyrocket for Montebello recall campaign sparked by garbage contract", August 16, 2009
