A recall effort is shaping up against the mayor of Oxnard and three other members of the City Council. Mayor Tim Flynn and council members Carmen Ramirez, Bert Perello and Oscar Madriga were served with documents initiating a recall last week.
"I walked door-to-door during my campaign, and I'll do that again," said Councilman Flynn in response to the threat. "I don't want to use the word 'indifferent' to this because it's a serious thing, but my philosophy is, we've done a good job. ... My goal is to take my case to the people."
Whether that's true depends on who you ask. Aaron Starr, who is initiating the recall effort, says the four officials thwarted the will of voters by approving a five percent hike in wastewater rates even after a voter-approved repeal of rate increases. He intends to hold them accountable. The lone no vote on the rate increase came from Councilman Bryan MacDonald. He has been spared from the recall effort.
Most of the council members appeared to take the news in stride. Recalls are a lengthy process. If Starr is able to collect the necessary signatures, a special election could be called in early spring of next year.