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Andrew Whitman recall, Ojai, California (2023)
| Andrew Whitman recall |
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| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2023 Recalls in California California recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall District 3 City Councilman Andrew Whitman did not go to a vote in Ojai, California. The Ojai City Clerk's Office rejected the initial notice of intent to circulate the recall petition. Organizers served Whitman with a new notice on October 2, 2023.[1][2][3][4]
Recall supporters
The grounds for the proposed recall listed on the notice of intent were as follows:
| “ |
Andrew Whitman did a "bait and switch" on District 3 residents. As one constituent told the City Council, Whitman promised to "work productively" with colleagues. But things turned out very differently: "I now see you as an arrogant, disingenuous, petty bully. I am sorry I voted for you." That regret is common. Utilizing vulgarity, Whitman intimidated, belittled and insulted two colleagues, Councilwomen Suza Francina and Leslie Rule. He connived with Mayor Stix to ignore the public good by promoting the narrow views of Simply Ojai. He concealed wrongdoings during closed-door meetings that the Ventura District Attorney determined violated the Brown Act, then supported reversing the Council's commitment to cease and desist from violating that law. Stifling dissent, Whitman voted to move public comments to the end of council meetings (11 pm); and attempted to remove Councilwoman Francina after she became houseless. Whitman failed to exert any leadership in solving the district's septic watershed contamination. He falsely smeared an effective planning commissioner to remove him simply out of political revenge. His intolerance of opposing opinions endangers the free speech rights of all and could cost Ojai thousands in litigation. Whitman is unfit for office and must be recalled.[5] |
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Ojai resident Barbara Bowman is organizing the recall effort.[2]
Recall opponents
In Whitman's written response to the recall petition, he wrote, “It is nothing more than an attempt to reverse a fair election.”[6]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in California
A notice of intention to circulate a recall petition was served to Whitman on August 29, 2023. The notice of intention is the first step in the recall process in California. After the notice of intention was filed, Whitman had seven days to file a response.[1][7]
In a September 12, 2023, letter addressed to Bowman, Ojai City Clerk said, “This letter shall serve as the formal rejection and return of your Notice of Intent to Circulate Recall petition because your Notice of Intent did not meet the statutory requirements."[2]
Recall organizers served Whitman with a new notice of intent to recall on October 2, 2023.[3]
In California, the percentage of registered voters whose signatures are needed to trigger a recall election for a local official depends on the number of registered voters in the jurisdiction:
- 30% in jurisdictions with 0 - 1,000 registered voters
- 25% in jurisdictions with 1,000 - 10,000 registered voters
- 20% in jurisdictions with 10,000 - 50,000 registered voters
- 15% in jurisdictions with 50,000 - 100,000 registered voters
- 10% in jurisdictions with 100,000 or more registered voters
Recall organizers submitted 347 signatures, of which 309 were found to be sufficient. The recall effort did not move forward.[4]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ojai Valley News, "Whitman recall started by new PAC," August 31, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ojai Valley News, "City clerk rejects recall of Councilmember Andrew Whitman," September 21, 2023
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ojai Valley News, "OPINION | Support for Whitman recall keeps growing," October 5, 2023
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ojai Valley News, "Attempt to recall Councilmember Whitman fails," November 30, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Ventura County Star, "Ojai Councilmember Andrew Whitman is subject to a recall," November 3, 2023
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Procedures for Recalling State and Local Officials Revised 2023," accessed September 7, 2023
