IRVINE : Unsuccessful Recall Drive Not Dead Yet

Recall organizer Gary Kingsbury, whose petition drive to force a recall election against three council members fell short last week, emerged from a meeting with city and county officials Monday saying he hasn’t given up.

Kingsbury, who led a six-month campaign to recall Mayor Michael Ward and council members Barry J. Hammond and Paula Werner, said the signatures collected would have been sufficient to require a recall election against Ward and Hammond had it not been for those disqualified for “technical reasons.�

The three council members were targeted because of their July, 1994, approval of a plan to borrow $62 million to put in the Orange County investment pool, which collapsed in December.

Of the 8,445 signatures needed for each candidate, the county registrar determined that recall proponents fell short by 597 signatures for Ward and 578 signatures for Hammond. Petition gatherers needed another 1,715 signatures for Werner.

After meeting with officials from the county registrar of voters Monday afternoon, Kingsbury said that 606 signatures to recall Ward and Hammond were disqualified because the petition dates did not match voter registration dates. Those gathering signatures often simultaneously registered the signers to vote, Kingsbury said.

Another 729 signatures on petitions to recall Ward and Hammond were not accepted by City Clerk Judy Venada because they were turned in separately, at the end of the deadline day, Kingsbury said.

Venada said she did not accept the second batch of petitions because election laws require all signatures to be submitted at the same time.

Recall proponents plan to re-examine all other signatures disqualified by the registrar of voters, Kingsbury said, and he will rely on legal advice whether to challenge the outcome of the failed petition drive.

“This is an issue our attorney has to research,� Kingsbury said.