FULLERTON : Election Debate Rages on Recall Issue

Joetta Simmons has decided how she will vote in the June 7 election: “Yes” for the recall of four Fullerton officials. Barbara Johnson, has decided to cast “no” votes.

The two residents reached those decisions after attending a debate Wednesday night at Troy High School, where two opponents and two proponents debated the recall effort against Mayor A.B. (Buck) Catlin, City Clerk Anne M. York and council members Molly McClanahan and Don Bankhead. The recall effort began last July when the City Council voted 3-2 in favor of an 2% utility tax, despite objections from hundreds of residents. Catlin, McClanahan and Bankhead voted for the tax.

York became a recall target because she delayed the process: She rejected recall petitions against council members, saying that the notices exceeded the 200-word legal limit.

About 200 residents attended the League of Women Voters-sponsored debate.

Fullerton Recalls Committee co-chairman Thomas Babcock and treasurer Bruce Whittaker contended that the city’s leadership has not been representing its constituents. They charged that residents were ignored when they voiced their opposition to the utility tax and demanded that the council place a referendum on last November’s ballot.

“My friends, this is all we asked,” Babcock said. “We were willing to be bound by the vote. . . . The recall election is the referendum that Molly, Don and Buck refused the citizens of Fullerton last November.”

McClanahan and former mayor Richard Ackerman, who presented the opposing view, said the council does represent the people and that controversial decisions never sparked a recall effort in the city’s history before the utility tax vote. They said placing it on the ballot would have been too costly.

“The referendum would have cost $33,000 and we were watching every nickel,” McClanahan said. Prior to the debate, a county official announced that if the recall is successful and voters decide to hold a special election to replace the three council members, the cost to the city could climb to $100,000.

Ackerman said the recall effort was not necessary. “You elect people who are supposed to do your will. No one’s going to agree with you on all issues. That’s why we have an election every four years.”

The debate will be aired on the local Cable Television channel next Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and next Friday at 6 p.m. Residents also may watch a live debate at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Sunny Hills High School.