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Weir recall vote won't make November ballot
| Wednesday, Jul 16 2008 5:20 PM
Last Updated: Thursday, Jul 17 2008 7:25 AM
The attempt to recall Bakersfield City Councilman Ken Weir will not be on the November ballot.
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Ken Weir was served notice of a recall effort by Willard Winn during a May City Council meeting.
Petition gatherers have collected more than 1,000 signatures, said organizer Will Winn, but they need 4,108 to force an election.
Winn had aimed to collect the signatures in time to get the issue on the November ballot. But the summer heat has kept canvassers from putting in the needed hours of door-to-door walking, he said.
A standalone special election would cost $80,000 to $90,000, according to county elections chief Sandy Brockman. But City Clerk Pam McCarthy said it could be held on March 3, 2009, which is a state-designated election day and thus would save the city money.
Winn said even if the recall fails, “it’s a good thing to politically hold people’s feet to the fire.”
Weir criticized Winn for pushing on.
“Mr. Winn and others have not been honest or forthright throughout this entire process so it is no surprise that they would not honor their own June 30th deadline,” he wrote in an e-mail.
Both sides have turned to mailers — the recallers to collect signatures, Weir to encourage people not to sign. Both sides also asked for money.
“I have received an overwhelming positive response to my mailing and am grateful for the confidence and continued support of the voters of Ward 3,” Weir wrote.
The recall was sparked after Weir attempted in April to remove Planning Commissioner Russell Johnson before the end of his term. The rest of the council rebuffed Weir.