State Confirms That Roberti Faces Recall
State election officials have confirmed that opponents of Senate leader David Roberti had collected enough valid voter signatures to force a recall election this spring, less than a year before Roberti would leave office under term limits.
The recall election is likely to be watched nationally as a test of the clout of pro-gun groups such as those that backed the recall effort. It will be the first recall vote affecting a state official in 80 years.
Recall supporters said this week that their signature-gathering drive was sparked by “political corruption and hypocrisy in Sacramento.”
But Roberti said it was retribution for his successful efforts to restrict access to assault weapons.
Chief Deputy Secretary of State Tony Miller said Gov. Pete Wilson has 60 to 80 days to call a recall election in Roberti’s 20th Senate District. April 12 is a likely time because a recall election would coincide with other local elections on that date.
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