In most places, getting recalled means packing up your office and handing over the keys. In Avenal, California, it apparently means showing up and acting like it never happened.

Three city councilmembers, including the mayor, in the San Joaquin Valley community are refusing to give up their seats after voters overwhelmingly recalled them in April, setting off a political standoff that has spilled onto social media, into packed public meetings, and now into the courts.

Avenal is home to roughly 13,000 people, with about one-quarter of its population housed at Avenal State Prison, one of the area’s largest employers. The city’s economy is also heavily tied to agriculture, and more than 80% of residents are Latino.

Voters there removed four of the city’s five council members, with each recall drawing at least 75% of the vote. The effort stemmed largely from controversy surrounding changes to the city’s fire protection arrangements, according to the Fresno Bee. Kings County certified the results in May after residents overwhelmingly backed the recalls during a special election on April 28.

But three of the ousted officials have refused to step aside, arguing the election was improperly conducted by Kings County rather than the city and therefore should not be recognized.

More here

Tagged: Local BACK TO HOMEPAGE