San Gabriel Valley
RECALL DIES: Covina became the center of attention three years ago for the recall of the entire City Council over its approval of a 6% utility tax.
But with little fanfare, an attempt to recall council members Thomas O’Leary, Linda Sarver and Tom Falls died Tuesday. They rode that anti-tax wave to the vacated seats, only to pass a higher 8.25% tax in 1994 rather than make promised cuts.
Covina Citizens for United Action failed to muster the needed 4,065 signatures--2O% of registered voters--to force a recall election.
“We don’t have enough signatures, so there is no point in turning them in,” said Hugh S. Jennings, a member of the group. “It did not pan out as we planned. People aren’t as interested.”
Mayor O’Leary said the nail in the recall movement’s coffin came in November when 54% of voters in a nonbinding referendum supported the tax. . . .
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