WALNUT : Wentworth Recall Backers Get OK for Signature Drive

Organizers of a recall drive against Walnut Councilwoman June Wentworth have been cleared to start collecting signatures for a possible election.

City Clerk Beverly Sherwood approved sample petition forms on March 27. Members of the Committee to Recall June Wentworth have until July 25 to collect enough signatures to have Wentworth’s name placed on a special recall ballot.

Recall organizers need to collect signatures from at least 20% of the city’s 12,761 registered voters to qualify for a special election, Sherwood said.

Wentworth has been accused of helping foster bad race relations in the city. Once mostly white, Walnut’s population has diversified rapidly in recent years.

Wentworth’s support of the all-white Anglo-American Club in Walnut and her criticism of former City Manager Linda Holmes led residents to form the recall committee.

Holmes resigned in February after serving 10 years as Walnut’s city manager. Before leaving, Holmes accused Wentworth of undermining racial diversity at City Hall and using racial slurs against city staff members.

Wentworth was served with recall papers by committee member Donald Boerger during the public comment portion of the council’s March 8 meeting. Boerger was one of 20 people to sign the notice of intent to recall Wentworth.

In her response, filed March 15, Wentworth defended her record as a member of the council. In a prepared statement, Wentworth called the charges against her groundless and outlined some of her accomplishments while in office.

The notice of intent filed by recall committee members states that Wentworth has harassed city staff, undermined the city manager’s authority, and has destroyed staff morale and productivity.