Herb Perez Recall, Foster City, California (2020)

Foster City Council recall
Officeholders
Herb Perez
Recall status
Recall approved
Recall election date
March 3, 2020
See also
Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2020 Recalls in California California recall laws City council recalls Recall reports

An effort in Foster City, California, to recall Councilman Herb Perez was initiated in May 2019.^[1] Petitioners submitted enough signatures to put the recall election on the ballot. The recall election took place on March 3, 2020.^[2] Perez was removed from office as a result of the recall vote.^[3]

Recall vote[edit]

The recall election took place on March 3, 2020.^[2] Voters chose to remove Perez from office by a vote of 77.28% to 22.72%.^[3]

Two candidates ran in the March 3 election to replace Perez if he was recalled: Jon Froomin and Patrick Sullivan. In this race, Froomin beat Sullivan by a vote of 58.31% to 41.69% and will serve out the remainder of Perez's term on the council.^[3]

Recall supporters[edit]

The recall effort was organized by a group called FC Watchdog, which accused Perez of "open disdain for residents" and pro-development agenda. Jeff Regan, an organizer for the recall, said about the recall effort, "It’s because when a resident goes up to speak publicly and gets treated with disdain — that blocks democracy and it’s an intimidation tactic. At a certain point, enough is enough."^[4]

Recall opponents[edit]

Perez responded to the recall effort. He said, "I respect democracy. It’s unfortunate that individuals behind the recall do not. They would circumvent the will of eight years of voters who have consistently supported and voted me into office and that’s unfortunate. … They cannot name a single wrongdoing, no illegal taking of money, nothing. They just don’t like me and I’m OK with that."^[4]

Path to the ballot[edit]

See also: Laws governing recall in California

Recalls of local officials in California start with notices of intent to targeted officials. Each notice requires signatures from 10 city residents, the name of the targeted official, and reasoning for the recall that cannot exceed 200 words. A copy of the notice is delivered to the city clerk, who publishes the notice in at least three public places. Targeted officials have seven days following receipt of their notices to issue statements of defense. A recall petition can be circulated against each targeted official once the notice of intent is published.

Petitioners were required to gather valid signatures equal to 20% of the registered voters in the city. In Foster City, the requirement was 3,313 valid signatures.^[4] Petitioners submitted 4,389 signatures for verification on September 16, 2019. Election officials are given 30 days to verify the signatures.^[1] The signatures were verified on October 15, 2019.^[2]

See also[edit]

• Recall campaigns in California
• Political recall efforts, 2020
• Political recall efforts, 2019
• City council recalls

External links[edit]

• Foster City, California
• Recall website by the Committee to Recall Council Member Herb Perez

Footnotes[edit]

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