LAGUNA BEACH

Festival of Arts President Sherri M. Butterfield said the board will not proceed with a recall election as a result of the 66 additional signatures exhibitors delivered last week in an attempt to restart their effort.

Two weeks ago, the exhibitors turned in 325 signatures seeking to recall festival board members who want to move the summer art event to San Clemente.

The festival did not validate the petition, contending that 83 signatures were invalid, making the drive 30 signatures short of the 272 needed.

On Wednesday, exhibitors photocopied the original petitions and attached the additional 66 and turned them in to the festival.

However, Butterfield said the photocopies of the petition are not valid because they are not the originals. She said the original petitions and the signatures contained therein are now property of the festival and will not be returned.

Festival exhibitors were undeterred, however.

“We’ll just get it put on the right kind of paper and get it to them,” said Scott Moore, an exhibitor behind the recall. “I think they could show a little more professionalism. As I see the way our board is acting, I’m more determined that we clean house and get this thing back to where it belongs.”