San Fernando City Council recall, California, 2009
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An election to recall San Fernando City Council members Jose Hernandez and Julie Ruelas took place on January 13, 2009. Hernandez and Ruelas were both recalled.[1]
Brenda Esqueda was elected to replace Hernandez and Ernesto Hernandez was chosen by the voters to replace Ruelas.
To put the recalls on the ballot, recall supporters had to collect a minimum of 1,771 valid signatures from registered voters in San Fernando. 2,220 signatures were collected on the Ruelas recall petition and 2,250 signatures were collected on the Hernandez recall petition.[2]
Jose Fernandez's results:
- Yes: 873 (65.6%)
- No: 457 (34.4%)
Julie Ruelas' results:
- Yes: 873 (64.2%)
- No: 487 (35.8%)
Reasons for recall
Supporters of the recall had a variety of reasons for wishing to recall the two city council members:
- Real-estate broker Adriana Gomez said residents were upset about the waste of taxpayer funds and a lawsuit that was settled in early 2008 for $750,000.
- Ernesto Hernandez said "People were upset about the mismanagement of city resources and the really negative attitude on the City Council during the last six years."
- The Los Angeles Daily News wrote, "The recall was driven by a variety of issues, including residents' frustration with slow progress in downtown development and the long-delayed construction of a city aquatic center. A lawsuit in which a developer accused Hernandez of making anti-Semitic remarks before the city denied him a permit also generated concern."[1]
- Critics contended, according to the Los Angeles Times, that the pair "repeatedly voted to approve policies that benefited outside nonprofit groups instead of San Fernando’s 25,000 residents."[3]
One lawsuit involved San Fernando Station LLC alleging irregularities in the city's denial of an alcohol permit for a restaurant.
See also
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Daily News, "San Fernando voters recall two council members", January 14, 2009
- ↑ Inside So Cal, "San Fernando recall likely", July 23, 2008
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Signatures for San Fernando council recall petitions deemed valid", September 4, 2008
