Hearing Planned on Recall of Fifth Council Member

The only member of the Hawaiian Gardens City Council not facing a recall election could lose that distinction at a special meeting Tuesday.

County election officials have certified more than 1,000 signatures supporting the recall of Councilman Rene Flores, enough to place the issue on the March ballot. A vote on whether to accept the certification and plan a recall election is scheduled for Tuesday.

A soft-spoken member of the council’s minority, Flores has infuriated his opponents by refusing to vote on spending measures until the city balances its books. But as an opponent of gambling in the city, he has also become drawn into the fight over a card club approved by city voters last year, a battle that could be decided during the other four council members’ Dec. 17 recall election.