The June 7 Primary Election : Reviewing Recall Issues in Fullerton

* On June 7, we strongly recommend a “no” vote on the recall of our City Council members Don Bankhead, Buck Catlin and Molly McClanahan, and City Clerk Anne York.

Accusations are being thrown at them by a small group who are inexperienced and lack knowledge of city government and the budget process.

The recall people advocate amending the City Charter in various ways. Fullerton does not have a charter to amend since it operates as a General Law City.

The above council members are accused of being “big spenders.” According to “Governments in California,” Fullerton ranks in the top 10% in the state in effectively using its financial resources.

Information is also being circulated that excessive salaries are being paid to the Fullerton staff. Fullerton city staff salaries are actually very comparable to salaries of cities of like size in this area and in many cases are lower. Don’t be misled by the recall leaders who have not had leadership roles in our city. Let’s keep the quality of life and the services we need with a “no” vote on the recall.

DR. AND MRS. FRANCIS MACKEY

Fullerton

* Regarding your recent editorial “Simple Dislike Not Reason for Recall,” City Clerk Anne York was targeted because she (1) mixed up important recall papers that were personally processed by her, and she never explained or apologized to the recall committee for her errors, which cost us in time and extra money, and (2) she misapplied a subsection of the Elections Code to some words to which that subsection did not apply.

Do not take my word for it; look at the language of the actual Recall Petition against her. The Times editorial staff should try to get its facts straight before it opines on political matters. These recalls in Fullerton and surrounding cities are not “simple dislike,” and in the case of Fullerton, not just single-item issues.

LINDA WHITAKER

Fullerton

* The rampant recall ongoing in many Southern California cities threatens to do more harm than good for the citizens of these communities. This is especially true in my city, Fullerton, where four hard-working, honest and longtime officials are facing recall.

One should expect a city council to run a clean, lean operation when there is a recession, and to downsize its operation. Our Fullerton City Council has done just that. They have given no raises to the upper echelon executives for three years. This current fiscal year they cut the budget another $1.9 million and eliminated 90 budgeted positions. The bind for the city came when the state took another $1.6 million in local property taxes.

The recall group is, of course, aware of these facts. Should the recall operation succeed, what are the specific plans of the new council members? If they don’t raid the city reserves, what will they specifically cut and what impact will this have on the quality of life in Fullerton?

BERNIE SCHMIDT

Fullerton

* Prudence, says Webster, is “managing carefully, exercising sound judgment in practical matters.” I applaud the Fullerton Recalls Committee for fitting into that definition. Not every organization has shown such prudence in its financial responsibility as was revealed in their recent financial statement.

According to that statement, only $920 were contributions in amounts of $100 or more. That is amazing! The rest of the monies were contributions under $100, indicating a broad base of givers! The expenses were minimal and reasonable. Thanks, Fullerton Recalls Committee, for showing that prudence and financial responsibility still exists! If only Mayor A.B. Catlin and council members Don Bankhead and Molly McClanahan had been that prudent with taxpayers’ money, Fullerton would not have a utility tax nor would we have the need of a recall.

The “innocent” 2% utility tax implemented by Catlin, Bankhead and McClanahan last October is scheduled to increase to 3% in just a few months. And don’t be fooled, folks, they won’t stop at 3%! Citizens in surrounding cities where a utility tax began with 2%-5% now lament they are paying 10%-12% utility taxes! It is clear a changing of the council must happen soon or we, too, will be harnessed with a heavier tax burden.

The next source of money these three politicians expect to extract from Fullerton taxpayers is a 6% increase on our water bills this year, 6% in 1995 and 7% in 1996. However, with the recall election on June 7, they chose the slick political maneuver to postpone their vote until July 1. Again, don’t let them fool you. Come July 1, if we allow them to remain in office, our summer water bills will skyrocket.

MARILYN DAVENPORT

Fullerton