Leaders of Failed Irvine Recall Haven’t Quit : Politics: The registrar of voters’ count of petition signatures shows organizers fell short in their effort against three on the City Council. A challenge of the results is planned.

Leaders in an effort to recall the mayor and two City Council members say they will challenge a count showing they fell short in getting the required signatures to force an election.

Gary Kingsbury’s Irvine Recall Committee needed 8,445 valid signatures to force an election that could unseat Mayor Michael Ward and council members Barry J. Hammond and Paula Werner.

The registrar of voters count, released Friday, showed only 7,848 valid signatures of 10,900 regarding Ward; 7,867 valid signatures of 10,830 regarding Hammond and 6,730 valid signatures of 8,887 regarding Werner.

“It’s premature to say that we failed,” said Kingsbury, whose group began the recall effort after the county declared bankruptcy.

Kingsbury said he was not surprised some of the signatures were disqualified but he said the group will challenge that decision.

“It’s our job to get them back,” he said “We have a 21-day period to examine their reasons. This is not over,” he said. “Hopefully, we can sit down and work it out. Otherwise, if we feel [the signatures are] legitimate, we will defend them. We’ll take it to court.”

Members of the Irvine Recall Committee began collecting signatures in April targeting Ward, Hammond and Werner for their decision in July, 1994, to borrow $62 million to invest in the doomed county investment pool. The movement did not target council members Christina L. Shea and Greg Smith because they voted against the investment.

Ward called the challenge a waste of time. The signatures have been checked and double-checked, he said.

“I feel vindicated. The citizens have shown they think we’ve done a good job. If [Kingsbury] wants to get us out of office, he should run for office next year,” Ward said.