Steve Kearney recall, Calaveras County Board of Supervisors, California (2016)
| Calaveras County Board of Supervisors recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Recall election date |
| November 8, 2016 |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2016 Recalls in California California recall laws County commission recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Steve Kearney from his position representing District 5 of the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors in California began in April 2016. The notice of intention to circulate a petition was filed on April 7. Clyde Clapp served the recall notice to Kearney.[1] On November 8, 2016, Kearney was successfully recalled, and Clyde Clapp was voted to replace him.[2]
The petition cited Kearney's support of allowing an asphalt plant to operate without a conditional use permit or environmental studies and letting a developer back out of an agreement to pay for a left turn lane as the reasons for the recall.[1]
Recall vote
There were two questions on the ballot regarding the recall. The first was whether Kearney should be recalled from office. The second was a vote for who should replace him. Robert Bowerman, David Tunno, Clyde Clapp, and Bruce Giudici ran to replace Kearney.[3][4]
| Recall Steve Kearney Question | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Recall | 2,536 | 60.66% | ||
| Retain | 1,645 | 39.34% | ||
| To Succeed Steve Kearney | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Robert Bowerman | 835 | 23.78% | ||
| David Tunno | 669 | 19.05% | ||
| Clyde Clapp | 1,186 | 33.78% | ||
| Bruce Giudici | 821 | 23.38% | ||
Background
Members of the county staff recommended that there be an environmental impact study on the proposed asphalt plant, which would taker a broader look at possible risks to the nearby Calaveras River and at consequences of increased truck traffic. The Calaveras County Planning Commission rejected the recommendation, and when it was appealed to the Board of Supervisors, Kearney was part of a 3-0 vote that also rejected the request. This allowed the plant, proposed by Ford Construction and CB Asphalt, to proceed without an environmental impact report and a conditional use permit.[1]
In the second issue stated on the recall petition, Kearney voted to let Ryan Voorhees, a developer, off the hook for paying for a left turn lane at Olive Branch Road and Highway 26. Kearney said he only made this decision after the California Department of Transportation removed the requirement for the turn lane.[1]
Recall opponents
Response from Steve Kearney
Kearney made a press release about the recall on April 9:
| “ | I have been presented with a Notice of Intent to Recall my seat as a Calaveras County Supervisor. This action is being brought by a small group of ‘elites’ that feel the ‘wants and wishes’ of a select few should outweigh the ‘needs and wishes’ of the many in Calaveras County. The basis for their claim is not factual and is completely inaccurate (details below). This group is not new and has a long history of inflicting ‘economic terrorism’ against the people of Calaveras County which has resulted in keeping Calaveras County one of the poorest in the state, which is a distinction I want to change for the better. During my election it was no secret that I stood for jobs and economic growth for Calaveras County. I welcome the opportunity to reaffirm my commitment to bringing quality growth and economic prosperity to all. I encourage all of you to join me in rejecting the anti-job movement and let’s make Calaveras County economically healthy for our children and grandchildren.
The claim(s): This group is claiming two items/issues.
If you would like to know the links to the studies referenced please message here and I will forward.[5] |
” |
| —Steve Kearney[6] | ||
Recall supporters
Lora A. Most, a supporter of the recall, wrote an editorial that was published in the Calaveras Enterprise on July 25, 2016. Below is an excerpt:
| “ | I want to put on the record that I, Lora A. Most, have never before worked on a recall of any supervisor in District 5. In fact, most of the people working on the (Supervisor Steve Kearney) recall I had never met.
Why did Kearney want to get the proposed asphalt plant up and going without any public input? That is why we organized and started going to the Calaveras County Planning Commission meetings. Please watch the tapes and see how we, the constituents, were treated. We exhausted all of our efforts before we started the recall process. We had almost 900 people who signed the petition that was presented to the Calaveras planning commissioners requesting that the county require an environmental impact report and a conditional use permit for the proposed asphalt plant at Hogan Quarry. We were ignored. Then, when the appeal went before the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 9, we were ignored and the majority of the board denied our appeal. (Supervisors Edson, Kearney and Michael Oliveira.) Please watch Dr. Benedicto Estoesta’s passionate testimony. In the appeal process on Feb. 9, our fee was $100 to file an appeal. Then, on Feb. 23, those fees were increased to $600 by the majority of the board. I ask you, what is this telling the constituents?[5] |
” |
| —Lara A. Most[7] | ||
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in California
Petitioners needed 1,245 valid signatures by June 27, 2016, to force a recall election. The signatures were turned in on the last possible day.[8] The number of required signatures was calculated by taking 25 percent of the 4,954 registered voters in the district. Kearney had 10 days to file a response to the recall notice.[1] The county elections department certified 1,255 signatures in late June. This was early enough to put the recall on the general election ballot.[9] At a meeting on July 12, 2016, the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors refused to certify the recall although the signatures had been approved. County clerk Recorder Rebecca Turner was then forced to order the recall, which she did on July 27, 2016. The recall included the question of whether to recall Kearney, and if he was recalled, who should replace him. The filing deadline for those wishing to run for Kearney's position was August 25, 2016.[10]
See also
External links
Recent news
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Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Calaveras Enterprise, "Supervisor Steve Kearney faces recall campaign," April 11, 2016
- ↑ Calaveras County, "2016 General Election Results," November 8, 2016
- ↑ Calaveras Enterprise, "Four candidates verified for Calaveras County District 5 recall election," August 25, 2016
- ↑ Calaveras County, "Summary Report," March 27, 2017
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Facebook, "Steve Kearney," April 9, 2016
- ↑ Calaveras Enterprise, "County officials ignored constituents’ concerns over asphalt plant," July 25, 2016
- ↑ Calaveras Enterprise, "Recall campaign against District 5 Supervisor Steve Kearney moves ahead," June 27, 2016
- ↑ Calaveras Enterprise, "Kearney recall bid qualifies for ballot," July 4, 2016
- ↑ Calaveras Enterprise, "Calaveras County official orders recall election," July 27, 2016
