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Yorba Linda Water District recalls, California (2016)
| Yorba Linda Water District Board recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
Robert Kiley |
| Recall status |
| Recall election date |
| November 8, 2016 |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2016 Recalls in California California recall laws Special district recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Gary Melton and Robert Kiley from their positions on the Yorba Linda Water District board was initiated in March 2016. The Yorba Linda Water District is in Orange County, California[1] Melton and Kiley were both recalled on November 8, 2016.[2]
The effort was launched because of the board's decision to raise rates 380 percent over five years. Eddy Jackson of the Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association served the recall papers to Melton and Kiley during the water board meeting on March 10, 2016. Jackson said the board used a "deceptive campaign that leveraged California's water crisis as a means to excessively increase water rates."[3]
Two other members of the five-person board, Ric Collett and Mike Beverage, were up for re-election in 2016. The recall appeared on the November 8, 2016, general election ballot.[4] Voters therefore had the option of totally overhauling the board.[1] All five members of the board had voted to increase water rates.[5]
Recall vote
The recalls for Melton and Kiley occurred on November 8, 2016. In addition to voting either to recall or retain each official, voters chose a successor for each position. Robert Wren and Albert Nederhood ran for Melton's seat, and Eileen Barme and Brooke Jones ran for Kiley's seat.
Melton
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Kiley
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Supporters
Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association
In addition to the recall efforts, the Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association filed a lawsuit seeking to retract the water rate increases.[1] Jeff Decker, the association's cofounder, said the board was charging more than was necessary and was not looking out for the taxpayers' interests.[6]
The video below shows Eddy Jackson serving the recall papers during the board meeting on March 10.
Opponents
Gary Melton defended the rates increase. Due to the drought, Yorba Linda was required by the state to reduce its water use by 36 percent in 2015. Because people were using less water, the water district was bringing in less money. "This was the best resolution to keep the district going at least through this water crisis," said Melton.[1]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in California
Recall proponents had 120 days to collect 9,520 valid signatures for both Melton and Kiley, which is equal to 20 percent of the district's registered voters. The recall papers were served on March 10, 2016, and the two targets had seven days to file a response.[1] The The Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association turned in the petitions June 9, 2016, and said that they had 11,714 signatures on Melton's petition and 11,702 on Kiley's. The county had 30 days to certify the signatures.[7] The recall was approved for the November 2016 ballot.[4]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Yorba Linda water district recalls. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
- Yorba Linda Water District website
- Yorba Linda Water District Facebook page
- Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association Facebook page
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Voice of OC, "Recall Effort Launched Against Yorba Linda Water Board Members," March 14, 2016
- ↑ Orange County, "2016 General Election Results," November 8, 2016
- ↑ Youtube, "YLWD Directors Melton and Kiley Served Recall Papers," March 10, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Orange County Register, "Recall vote forced in Yorba Linda Water District," July 21, 2016
- ↑ Voice of OC, "LWD Directors Melton and Kiley Served Recall Papers," March 11, 2016
- ↑ Orange County Register, "Rate hike foes seek to recall two on Yorba water board," March 16, 2016
- ↑ Orange County Register, "Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association files petitions to recall water board members over rate hike," June 9, 2016
