Residents move to recall Garofalo

Tariq Malik

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- A group of residents have leveled their aim on

Mayor Dave Garofalo, notifying him of their intent to recall him from

office in the spring.

Backed by a petition of 30 signatures from residents, 40-year resident

Sandra Cole presented the mayor with a list of reasons for the recall

during Monday’s City Council meeting. It included claims that he profited

from a city contract and voted favorably for advertisers in the

Huntington Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau visitors guide.”Since being

elected to the council in 1994, we believe [Garofalo] has violated his

oath of office and the public trust,” Cole said.

Neither the mayor nor his fellow council members commented as Cole

delivered the recall intent notice and petition.

“You’re never happy when everybody doesn’t love you,” Garofalo said.

“But that’s life. . . . I’m proud of everything I’ve done in public and

private life and look forward to my next campaign.”

Garofalo was reelected to the City Council in 1998 and has two years

left to his term before he plans to run for reelection.

“I was born to campaign, and I think when this is all over I’ll be

vindicated but not happy about it,” he said.

Cole and Garofalo agree they’ve been at odds on a number of issues

throughout the mayor’s six-year stint on the council, including the issue

of rent control for mobile home residents.

Yet Cole maintains her petition pertains only to Garofalo’s

performance as a councilman, not their disagreements.

Garofalo is under investigation by the Orange County district

attorney’s office, the Orange County Grand Jury and the state’s Fair

Political Practices Commission for possible conflicts of interest during

the six years he’s served as a councilman, with allegations centered

around his publishing business, David P. Garofalo & Associates.

His business published the city-funded visitors guide that is

distributed by the Huntington Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau,

beginning in 1993, and allegedly kept profits from advertising revenue,

though bureau officials maintain that’s how the guide is produced.

Although Garofalo sold his business to longtime friend Ed Laird in

1998, he was kept on as a consultant and council minutes show he voted 35

times on issues involving advertisers in the year between December 1997

and December 1998.

The recall is unexpected for some city officials and residents.

“Being out and around the city, I’ve found a real disappointment and

sense of anger out of the community about Garofalo’s ethical decisions,”

Councilman Dave Sullivan said.

Debbie Cook, an environmental attorney who is running for City Council

this year, said the intent to recall Garofalo represents the community’s

level of frustration.

Councilwoman Pam Julien, who is running for reelection next month,

said she was caught off guard by the recall move.

“I though we were all waiting for the investigation process to take

its course,” she said. “I was really surprised.”

Businessman and council candidate Bill Borden said it’s too early to

lay blame on Garofalo.

“This is still America, and the people have the right to do this,”

Borden said. “But I think it’s too premature to draw any conclusions.

This is still the U.S., and there is a burden of proof on the accusers in

these investigations.”

Garofalo has seven days from the day he received the recall papers to

issue a response to Cole and her supporters, who must also submit

paperwork within that period. Cole must then publish the notice in

newspapers and gather valid signatures from 10% of the city’s 113,083

registered voters in 165 days to move forward.

If Cole and her supporters are successful, a special election to

recall Garofalo and install an interim council member could be held in

April.

City Clerk Connie Brockway said there’s been only one instance where a

City Council member has been served recall papers, and that instance

didn’t result in a recall.