SAN CLEMENTE : Council Members to Fight Recall Effort

Four City Council members who have been targeted for recall because they voted to disband the Police Department and contract with the Sheriff’s Department said Friday they will fight the effort.

“It just seems like we’re snake bit,” said Mayor Truman Benedict. “There’s slides, fires, broken water mains, and now this. It gets discouraging. But we’ll pull through.”

Council members Joseph Anderson, Scott Diehl and Candace Haggard are the other three named by recall advocates.

“Most recalls are destructive to a community, and this is a time when San Clemente is facing a lot of adversity and natural tragedy,” Diehl said. “This divisiveness the group is proposing is not in San Clemente’s best interest, but they do have a right to do it.”

Anderson said he has received only support from residents since casting his vote for the Sheriff’s Department contract, which could save the financially troubled city an estimated $2 million next year and increase patrols.

“The council did exactly what the council should have done,” Anderson said. “It was a difficult decision, but a decision had to be made, and we made it.”

Haggard was unavailable for comment. The fifth council member, Thomas Lorch, voted against the sheriff’s contract.

In an effort to save the city’s 65-year-old Police Department, a majority of approximately 50 residents and business owners who met Thursday night vowed to pursue the recall.

The group, which formed a committee of 12 to lead the effort, said they will also investigate legal injunctions, initiative and referendum bids. Angered residents say they should been allowed to vote on the issue, and dispute the estimated savings that would come with the sheriff’s contract.

“The people of this city are ready to take whatever means are necessary within our power to get our point of view across that we want to be heard,” said Alvin White, a resident leading the opposition.

But not everyone at the meeting agreed with a recall, despite their support for retaining the Police Department. “It’s a very difficult thing to do, you better think it over,” said resident Marie Baida.

To force a recall election, organizers must collect signatures from 20% of the estimated 21,000 voters in San Clemente within 120 days of filing formal papers in the city clerk’s office. If enough signatures are collected, a special election must be set 88 to 125 days later.

Leaders of the threatened recall drive said they expect to file formal notices of their intent in early March.