City council recall, San Juan Capistrano, California (2018)
| San Juan Capistrano City Council recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
Derek Reeve Pam Patterson |
| Recall status |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2018 Recalls in California California recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
An effort in San Juan Capistrano, California, to recall council members Kerry Ferguson, Derek Reeve, and Pam Patterson from their positions was initiated in November 2017. Recall petitions were served to all three officials by November 27, 2017.[1] The Patterson recall was pursued by a different organizer than the recalls against Ferguson and Reeve. The recall efforts against all three council members were withdrawn in April 2018.[2]
A separate recall against council member Sergio Farias was initiated in May 2017 but did not go to a vote.
Recall supporters
The recall petitions against Ferguson and Reeve alleged that the council members endangered the Los Rios Historic District and created traffic issues by supporting new development projects.[1] The effort against Patterson alleged that she attempted to terminate previous city managers and attorneys. The Patterson petition also accused her of participating in an illegal referendum that cost the city $1 million in legal settlements.[1]
Recall opponents
Ferguson's official reply to the recall effort argued that residents had the right to recall officials but "exercising those rights through false statements and misrepresentations abuses the process." This response noted that the council voted to study properties around the historic district, which did not constitute approval for new development.[1]
Reeve's response to the recall effort argued that he had voted against proposed developments in the past and that "a small group of residents filed a recall against me that center around allegations that are 100% blatantly false."[1]
Patterson's response to the recall effort argued that there was not an illegal referendum, that legal settlements were misappropriated, and that previous complaints filed against her were found to be without merit.[1]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in California
Recalls of local officials in California start with notices of intent to targeted officials. Each notice requires signatures from 10 city residents, the name of the targeted official, and reasoning for the recall that cannot exceed 200 words. A copy of the notice is delivered to the city clerk, who publishes the notice in at least three public places. Targeted officials have seven days following receipt of their notices to issue statements of defense. A recall petition can be circulated against each targeted official once the notice of intent is published. Supporters would need at least 3,844 valid signatures from city voters to trigger an election.[1]
See also
External links
Footnotes
