Azusa Recall Petition Filed

Opponents of Azusa City Councilmen Harry L. Stemrich and Tony D. Naranjo filed a proposed recall petition against Stemrich with the city clerk this week, moving a step closer to a recall election.

The wording of the proposal must be approved by the county registrar-recorder before recall organizers can begin collecting the 2,800 signatures, 20% of the city’s registered voters, needed to force a recall election.

The recall effort against Naranjo was held up when it was ruled that the original notice of recall served to Naranjo was two words over the 200-word statutory limit. The notice was re-served last week.

Rick Phipps, a leader in the recall drive, said the petition against Naranjo will also be delivered to the city clerk this week. The registrar has 10 days to review the document to determine whether the wording is satisfactory.

The signature drives will run concurrently once the documents are approved, Phipps said,

Some of the recall proponents are members of a citizens group, Azusans for a Better Community, which helped elect Stemrich, Naranjo and Mayor Eugene F. Moses on a unity slate in April.

Proponents charge that the councilmen have fallen through on campaign promises, made unwarranted attacks on Moses and have allowed continued apartment construction despite pledges to end construction of multifamily dwellings.

Both councilmen deny the charges. They have hired Campaign Management Inc., a Newport Beach-based consulting firm run by Harvey Englander, to oppose any effort to unseat them.