Farrell Recall Papers Stolen From Office

Thieves broke into the storefront headquarters of the campaign to recall Los Angeles City Councilman Robert Farrell and made off with equipment and precinct strategy documents, recall leaders said Wednesday.

Though little was made of it at the time, pro-Farrell campaign workers quickly pointed out that their storefront headquarters, located two doors away in the same mini-mall at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Western Avenue, had been burglarized two weeks ago.

Neither side blamed the other, but recall leader Kerman Maddox said there were indications that the break-in at his office was not an ordinary burglary.

“I have no idea, I really don’t,” Maddox said when asked who might be responsible. “(But) it’s just kind of suspicious that a traditional burglar would be interested in financial disclosure statements, as well as precinct information.”

Maddox said two typewriters, a TV, radio, camera and telephone were taken and three desks--including his own--had been rifled.

Taken from Maddox’s desk, according to the recall leader, were campaign contribution statements and precinct information detailing where mailers had been sent and where signatures were gathered.

Maddox said the recall petitions were safely in a vault.

Recall proponents have until April 21 to file at least 12,600 valid signatures to force a recall. They say they have gathered more than 11,000 signatures so far.

The recall campaign contends that Farrell, who has represented the district since 1974, has lost touch with his constituents and has been ineffective in bringing improvements to the low-income, predominantly black 8th Council District. Farrell says his recall detractors are “outsiders” who have misrepresented his record.

Farrell did not comment on the recall headquarters break-in, but the anti-recall campaign issued a statement saying that the councilman “is appalled at the criminal element his constituency is subject to and because of his sensitivity, has always fought for adequate police protection.”