Victor Hernandez recall, Lubbock, Texas (2013)
| Lubbock City Council recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Recall election date |
| November 5, 2013 |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2013 Recalls in Texas Texas recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Victor Hernandez from his position on the city council of Lubbock, Texas was launched in April 2013.[1] Hernandez represented District 1. A recall election was held November 5, 2013. He retained his seat on the council.[2]
Election results
Victor Hernandez recall
| Victor Hernandez | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Recall | 647 | 41.53% | ||
 Retain | 911 | 58.47% | ||
| Election results via: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (Unofficial results on November 5, 2013) | ||||
The recall attempt was defeated. Victor Hernandez retained his seat on the Lubbock City Council.
Timeline
The recall effort against Victor Hernandez was as follows:
- April 26, 2013: The recall effort was launched.
- May 24, 2013: Recall supporters submitted signatures.
- June 4, 2013: Lubbock City Secretary validated signatures.
- June 13, 2013: Lubbock City Council set the recall election date.
- November 5, 2013: Date of the recall election. Retained seat.
Background
On April 26, former Lubbock County Commissioner Ysidro Gutierrez filed a recall affidavit. Gutierrez said he was disappointed by Hernandez’s handling of complaints involving City Manager Lee Ann Dumbauld.[3] He later said that Hernandez had "been dividing this council, and staff of this organization for 16 years."[4]
Recall supporters launched a political action committee called the Campaign to Vacate Victor for the petition effort. Recall supporters had to collect a minimum of 448 signatures by May 28 in order to force the recall election. The recall election was estimated to cost approximately $50,000.[1]
Hernandez response
In a press release following the city secretary's validation of the recall petition, Hernandez stated that he would not resign, and suggested that petitioners had used misinformation when asking for signatures. "Throughout the process of Mr. Gutierrez, et al, gathering signatures, I received numerous phone calls from some of the voters being approached. The callers stated that they were told by those collecting their signature that the petition being circulated was in fact, to support me as their Councilmember. Other callers reported that the petition being circulated was an effort to reduce the LP&L electric rate. As a result of this misinformation, some members of the community signed the recall petition." Hernandez also thanked his supporters and said, "To me, the silver lining to this event is that the people of District 1 have become adamant about having a say, about being part of the process, about wanting to vote."[4]
Path to the ballot
On May 24, recall supporters submitted 586 signatures. The city verified that the campaign collected a sufficient number of signatures.[5]
Recall election scheduled
On June 13, Lubbock’s City Council set the recall election of Hernandez to coincide with the county ballot during the November 5 general election, with early voting possible in October. Had the recall been approved, it would have triggered another election within 120 days. A regular election for the position is scheduled for May, 2014.[4][6]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, "Campaign to Vacate Victor PAC says push for signatures starts on weekend," April 25, 2013
- ↑ Lubbock-Avalanche Journal, "Victor victorious: voters reject proposition to recall Councilman Hernandez," November 5, 2013
- ↑ Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, "Lubbock's city council hires outside attorney in spat between councilman, city manager," April 17, 2013
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedJune4 - ↑ Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, "Ysidro Gutierrez submits recall petition on Victor Hernandez to city Friday afternoon," May 24, 2013
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedJune14
