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Natalie Rubalcava recall, Anaheim, California (2023-2024)
| Natalie Rubalcava recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Recall election date |
| June 4, 2024 |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2024 Recalls in California California recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
An election to recall District 3 City Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava was scheduled for June 4, 2024, in Anaheim, California. Voters retained Rubalcava.[1][2][3]
The recall effort was initiated following the release of a public corruption investigation report requested by the city and conducted by JL Group, LLC. The report can be read here.
In the report, investigators allege that Anaheim First, a resident advisory group created by the Chamber of Commerce, "was a thinly veiled data mining operation where individuals meeting in the various districts would provide their names, phone numbers, and email information." They allege that Anaheim First gave Rubalcava names and contact information and that she used the information for campaign purposes. Investigators describe a complaint from a local resident, who said Rubalcava contacted her for campaign purposes using contact information she had received from Anaheim First.[1][4]
The report concluded that it was outside the scope of the investigation to determine whether Rubalcava had violated the law. The investigators "did conclude Councilmember Rubalcava was less than candid and forthcoming with us during her interview. This includes her statement that she received the complainant's contact information from the Anaheim First website, that she did so after her election to office, and that she did not obtain or use the Anaheim First binder to discover personal contact information for campaign purposes."[4]
The report also alleged that Rubalcava gave operational directions to a city employee in violation of the city charter.[1][4]
Discussing the report during a city council meeting, Rubalcava said, "Suggestions that this report represents what Anaheim is today is completely inaccurate,” and “There is nothing in this recommendation that would suggest that anyone on this council should step down."[1]
Rubalcava was elected in 2022. She earned 57.8% of the vote in the nonpartisan general election on November 8, 2022.
Recall vote
Natalie Rubalcava recall, 2024
Natalie Rubalcava won the Anaheim City Council District 3 recall election on June 4, 2024.
Recall Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
Yes |
46.1
|
2,775 | |||
| ✔ | No |
53.9
|
3,240 | ||
Total Votes |
6,015 | ||||
|
|
Recall supporters
Martin Lopez, an Anaheim resident who signed the notice of intention to recall said, “The allegations against her are very serious and that’s why my stance is that she should resign.”[1]
Lopez is an organizer for Unite Here Local 11, a union that represents hotel, food service, and airport workers in Southern California and Arizona. Unite Here Local 11 supported Rubalcava's opponent in the 2022 election. Lopez has said his concerns are related to what he has seen as an Anaheim resident.[1]
Anaheim City Clerk Theresa Bass said that the notice of intention to recall included the names of registered voters, but not a single group or an indication of a lead recall organizer.[1]
The notice of intention to recall appears below.[5]
Recall opponents
In a text message to Voice of OC, Rubalcava said, “I’m proud to have been elected to serve on Anaheim’s City Council less than 9 months ago. In this role, I’ve listened to residents and done my best to get things done for our district.”[1]
Regarding the recall election, she said, “Recall elections are supposed to be reserved for special circumstances when an office holder violates the public trust. This recall is being put forward by an organization that spent tens of thousands of dollars trying to defeat me in 2022. I think the voters of Anaheim’s 3rd city council district are going to see this recall for what it is and reject it."[1]
A statement from Rubalcava appears below.[5]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in California
In California, the recall process begins with a notice of intention to recall. The notice must be served to the officer whose recall is being sought as well as published in a newspaper of general circulation. The notice must then be filed with the relevant election office. Once the notice has been deemed sufficient by the election office, a petition must also be filed and approved by the election office. Once the petition is approved, it can be circulated. The number of signatures required and the amount of time allowed for circulation depends on the office level and the size of the jurisdiction. If the recall petition is filed by the deadline, the election office will verify the signatures. If enough signatures are verified, a recall election will be scheduled.
A notice of intention to recall was filed with the Anaheim City Clerk's Office on August 18, 2023. Organizers needed 60 signatures in order to begin circulating a recall petition. They turned in 85, and 70 were deemed valid. Organizers needed to collect signatures equal to 20% of registered voters in District 3 to trigger a recall election, which is equal to 5,123 signatures.[1][6]
On January 17, 2024, recall organizers submitted 9,123 signatures. A sufficient number were verified for an election to go forward.[6][7]
Recall context
- See also: Ballotpedia's Recall Report
Ballotpedia covers recall efforts across the country for all state and local elected offices. A recall effort is considered official if the petitioning party has filed an official form, such as a notice of intent to recall, with the relevant election agency.
The chart below shows how many officials were included in recall efforts from 2012 to 2024 as well as how many of them defeated recall elections to stay in office and how many were removed from office in recall elections.
See also
- Recall campaigns in California
- Political recall efforts, 2023
- Political recall efforts, 2024
- City council recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Voice of OC, "Efforts to Start a Recall of Anaheim City Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava Are Underway," August 23, 2023
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Anaheim Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava faces recall election in June," February 28, 2024
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Anaheim Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava defeats recall in low-turnout election," June 5, 2024
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Voice of OC, "Administrative Investigation Report Findings in the Matter of the City of Anaheim Investigation," accessed August 28, 2023
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 City of Anaheim, "2024 District 3 Special Recall Election," accessed March 7, 2024
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 City of Anaheim, "Resolution No. 2024-017," accessed March 7, 2024
- ↑ Voice of OC, "Will a Disney-Backed Anaheim City Councilwoman Face a Recall Election?" January 17, 2024
