San Gabriel : Recall Petitions Submitted

Canvassers seeking the ouster of City Councilman Frank Blaszcak have submitted to the City Clerk’s office recall petitions with 3,216 signatures, about 400 more than required, Deputy City Clerk Cindy Bookter said.

The petitions, which were submitted Jan. 26, are being verified, signature by signature, by the county registrar-recorder, she said. Upon the completion of that process, which could take a month, the city clerk will report the findings to the City Council. The council would then have two weeks to set an election date if signatures of the required 20% of the electorate are verified.

The election date must be set for at least 88 days but no more than 125 days after the submission of the clerk’s report that the signatures are valid, Bookter said.

“The election could be held as early as May 23,” she said.

Organizers of the petition effort say Blaszcak, who was elected last April, has misused the powers of his office. His defenders say he is being targeted by developers and old guard politicians.