ANAHEIM : Police Assn. Alters Efforts Against Daly

The Anaheim Police Assn. has decided not to launch a recall effort against Mayor Tom Daly, backing away from a threat that it made last month.

The police organization has clashed with Daly over contract negotiations, and it has also criticized the mayor for concentrating too heavily on city issues such as lease negotiations with the Rams and not enough on public safety.

But union representatives said this week that they will campaign against Daly in upcoming municipal elections instead of seeking his immediate ouster.

“Obviously, Mayor Daly has his priorities, which we think are wrong,” said Edward Thaete, vice president of the Anaheim Police Assn. “We have candidates that we are going to back that are more conducive to our interests.”

Daly has defended his commitment to law enforcement, pointing out that the police budget has grown from $37 million to $51 million during his five years on the council. He could not be reached for comment this week.

Daly is up for reelection as mayor in November. Three council seats will be open as well.

Thaete said that with the election only a few months away, union officials reconsidered their strategy in recent weeks and decided that, despite last month’s threat, it was not worth their time and money to pursue a recall effort against him.

The police union, which represents about 335 officers, has about $6,000 in its political action account to spend on campaigns.

Tensions flared between the police union and the mayor during recent salary and benefit negotiations. Police staged several demonstrations, including a “blue flu” strike, before an agreement was eventually reached.