BREA : Recall Targets Hear From 10 Supporters

A handful of residents angry about recent efforts to recall three city councilmen staged a show of support for the officials this week.

About 10 residents came to the City Council podium to praise the council, especially Mayor Wayne D. Wedin.

“What we see in Brea today is a direct result of Wayne Wedin,” longtime resident Matthew Page said.

Lyle Sutton asked the community to think about the economic impact of mounting a recall campaign: “If this is just to get someone out of office, there is an election to do that. I feel we should think long and hard if we are going to take this route.”

At a previous council meeting, residents William Vega and Dennis Dean presented Wedin and council members Ron Isles and Carrey J. Nelson with recall notices. Vega and Dean said the three have vested interests in downtown redevelopment and also expressed anger over recent investigations of the business dealings of Wedin and Isles.

Vega and Dean were not present during Tuesday night’s meeting.

The state Fair Political Practices Commission is looking into Wedin’s relationship with a planning firm. Isles is being investigated by the county district attorney’s office concerning a city contract a former business partner, developer Don McBride. Under state law, it is a criminal offense for public officials to participate in matters in which they have a financial interest.

To force an election, recall supporters must collect at least 3,360 signatures. Council members named in the recall petition have until today to file responses.