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Friday's Internet Edition, November 21, 2008.
Recall petition filed on Meredith, Haines
Mayor, city council member accused of abusing democratic process, poor leadership
By Cameron Macdonald
Staff Writer
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A political group filed citizens’ petitions that demand the recall of Mayor Andrew Meredith and Vice Mayor Don Haines on grounds of mismanaging the city.
The papers were submitted to the Galt city clerk’s office on July 25.
Citizens to Protect Galt’s Future, an organization that promotes the proposed Delta Greens Senior Project development and focuses on the city’s fiscal issues, filed the notice of intent.
A spokesperson for the group could not be reached as of press time.
After the documents are filed, the pro-recall advocates may begin collecting signatures from citizens to have voters decide whether or not they want to remove Meredith and Haines from office during a special election to be held around next March.
At least 20 percent of registered voters in Galt, or roughly 1,850 people, would be needed to sign the new recall petition, Galt City Clerk Liz Aguire said. The petitioners would have 90 days to gather that number of signatures.
Once the signatures are gathered, Sacramento County and Galt city staff will have up to 30 days to verify the existence of those who signed the petition. There will also be a filing period for citizens who want to enter the special election and replace Meredith or Haines if they are recalled.
The county staff estimated that the special election would cost the city up to $70,000, Aguire said.
Each petition for the notice of intent had 30 signatures and listed 10 accusations against the mayor and vice mayor.
Both men were accused of abusing the democratic process by “retaliating against those who oppose the council majority,” lacking the leadership to take on the city’s reported $450 million shortfall in funding for the renovation of city facilities, as well as having a “disregard of troubled economic times” by creating an anti-development atmosphere and continuing deficit spending.
Meredith and Haines are also accused of neglecting the needs of senior citizens on fixed income and “refusing to acknowledge” the majority of Galt residents who supported the Delta Greens project by being against it.
Meredith and Haines could not be reached for comment as of press time.
As part of the notice of intent, the mayor and vice mayor have less than seven days to provide a response to the recall petition’s statements about them.
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