Baldwin Park : Recall Petition Approved

A petition for the recall of Mayor Jack White and two Baldwin Park City Council members has been approved by the city clerk’s office, enabling proponents to begin their signature collection drive.

A group calling itself Concerned Citizens for Better Government is behind the effort to oust White and council members Robert McNeill and Leo King. The recall is being attempted ostensibly to protest the council’s enactment of a 5% utility tax last November. However, recall proponent Earl McCoy said the drive is also intended to express opposition to the Community Redevelopment Agency and the Sierra Vista Redevelopment Project, which received preliminary approval from the City Council last week.

More than 3,900 voters signed petitions calling on the council to repeal the utility tax. The council disregarded the request after the state legislative counsel advised the city that utility taxes are exempt from repeal by citizen initiative, City Clerk Linda Gair said.

Opponents of the tax tried to recall Councilman Rick Gibson in February but failed to collect enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. At least 2,899 valid signatures must be submitted to the city clerk’s office by Oct. 28 to qualify the current recall proposal for the ballot, Gair said. If it qualifies, a special election will be held early next year, she said.