STANTON : Chamber Assails Effort to Recall 2

The Greater Stanton Chamber of Commerce has denounced the effort to recall council members Sal Sapien and Joe V. Harris, calling it a “divisive action.”

In a letter sent last week to the City Council, the chamber said the council should concentrate on balancing the budget and selecting a new city manager. “All of this could be threatened by a negative divisive action such as the current recall effort,” the letter said.

A group of residents is trying to recall Harris because of his public support of Measure A, the initiative on the June 8 ballot that sought to allow card clubs in the city.

Sapien is also targeted for recall because he refused to support a council resolution opposing Measure A.

To schedule a recall election, the group will have to collect signatures from 2,135 residents, or 20% of the registered voters.

Gina Davis, president of the chamber, said about 35 members discussed the recall effort at a chamber lunch last month and decided to oppose it. “We do not feel that there would be any winner,” Davis said. The letter was signed by the chamber’s board of directors.

The chamber’s action has nothing to do with the hotly disputed card club campaign, Davis said. “We’re not supporting them because they supported Measure A,” she said. “We’re against the idea of a recall effort.”

Councilman Harry Dotson, who was involved in a 1991 recall effort against Sapien, said he will stay on the sidelines during this campaign.

That recall effort was because of his support for the $5-million Civic Center, which will open in August.

Some residents said they believe Sapien supported the card club measure, even though he repeatedly said he was neutral on the issue.

“He’s talked with a forked tongue,” said resident Paul Dawson, who signed the notice of intent to recall. “I never saw such a windy son-of-a-gun in my life.”

The recall supporters have served Sapien with recall papers, but have been unable to serve papers to Harris, said Robert K. Hyun, who is working on the recall effort. Hyun ran unsuccessfully for council last fall.

Harris is out of town on family matters, according to City Clerk Darleen Cordova. Sapien is on vacation in Stanton, England, she said.

The recall supporters have 120 days in which to collect the signatures, Cordova said.