CYPRESS : Recall Group’s Leader Seeks to Oust Attorney

A leader in a recall movement against two City Council members is also calling for the firing of City Atty. John E. Cavanaugh.

Tony Smith, vice president of the Cypress Recall Committee, told a meeting of the City Council on Monday night that it should fire Cavanaugh because he “is not acting as an impartial, objective and independent counsel for the City of Cypress.”

Smith charged that Cavanaugh “appears to be acting as an advocate” for a company pushing for a controversial carpet warehouse in Cypress.

Cavanaugh, who was at the meeting, did not publicly respond.

In an interview Tuesday, he said the charges made by Smith are without merit.

“I have no interest in any project,” he said. “My client is the City Council.”

Smith, in his Monday night speech during public comments, made several accusations against Cavanaugh. He accused Cavanaugh of misleading and misinforming Cypress residents about options they had in opposing the warehouse.

Smith and other residents have joined in a civil lawsuit to stop construction of the warehouse in a business park at 11400 Valley View St. He charged that other options, including a council vote to reconsider and a possible citizen referendum movement, could have been used had Cavanaugh provided residents with adequate information.

Cavanaugh said on Tuesday that he gave accurate and timely information during the warehouse dispute. He said the advice he gave was neither slanted for or against the warehouse.

The committee is seeking to recall Mayor Cecilia L. Age and Councilwoman Gail H. Kerry for their support of the warehouse.