Cudahy : Recall Group Cries Foul Over Invalid Petitions

A group of Cudahy residents has accused some city leaders of sabotaging a recall campaign against Councilman Joseph Fregeau, and said they plan to file a lawsuit.

The group launched a recall against Fregeau last fall after he voted to switch law enforcement services from the Bell Police Department to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The group also is angry because Fregeau was appointed to the council after Councilman Gabe Zippi’s death.

Last week, the group was notified by acting City Manager Jack Joseph that their recall petition had failed because there were not enough valid signatures.

“We had plenty of valid signatures,” said group member and City Council candidate Valerie Hansen. “This is all a bunch of hanky-panky.”

Hansen said the city circulated its own petition asking residents who signed the recall petition to remove their names. But Joseph said those who signed the recall were given an opportunity to remove their names after several residents alerted him that papers they signed were being misrepresented as petitions against appointing anyone to the council. In retaliation, Hansen said the group attempted to circulate another petition to allow those who had removed their names to put them back on, but the city refused to accept it.

Hansen denied that any misrepresentation took place during the petition drive. She said the group may file suit after the municipal election Tuesday.