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IOA Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011
Indian Valley Record
Portola to hold special election April 10
Diana Jorgenson
Staff Writer
djorgenson@plumasnews.com
election to recall Mayor Dan
Wilson were present 'and min-
gled with those expressing
support for Wilson. Although
emotions, both pro and con,
were palpable, discussion was
restrained during most of the
commentary that took up the
better part of an hour.
Mayor Pro Tem Jul.iana
Mark led off discussion
by asking Jeanne Rowden:
Dansby, official filer of the
petition, to explain her reasons
for wanting to recall Wilson.
"First reason: Proposition
218 requires a proactive citi-
zenry to say no. When the
Prop. 218 process disenfran-
chised all the renters in this
~town and did not give voice to
the renters of this town, it
disenfranchised the people of
Portola.
"Second, when we asked
you to, please, put together an
ad hoc committee, we wrote
our notes and we had our say,
and you shut down our com-
mittee twice, sir (speaking to
Wilson). Twice.
"You called us disgruntled
citizens who were not facing
fact or reason. We had facts.
We had our reasons, but you
shut us down."
Rowden-Dansby also held
Wilson accountable for the 3-2
vote that passed the proposed
water and sewer rate increas-
es.
,'You didn't have to do
that," she said.
Dansby recounted a special
meeting, attended by Realtor
Earl Morrison, city staff and
Wilson where she felt Wil-
son's attempt to understand
their position came several
months too late in the
process.
She told Mark that these
A single December meeting,
a long agenda and a recall
item of community interest
combined to fill council
chambers to capacity at the
Dec. 14 meeting of Portola's
City Council.
About a dozen signers
of the petition for a special
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were the main reasons.
Mark, who along with coun-
cil member William Weaver
comprised the ad hoc commit-
tee, then asked Rowden-Dans-
by what the citizens group
had been doing since then.
Rowden-Dansby replied
that they had put their ques-
tions and concerns on hold
and were "working on getting
a council that is responsive to
its constituency."
Mark felt that the citizens
of Portola were looking for
change, and commented that
they needed to feel heard but
"I don't believe that the re-
call is necessary under the
circumstances because we
are coming up for a
changeover anyway," she fin-
ished.
Citizen Mike Rush said, "I
think the recall sends a clear
message to people ... that we
don't have a council that
works for the constituency of
Portola."
Portola resident for the past
year David White questioned
the value of spending $8,000 -
$10,000'on a special election to
relieve a six-month term. "I
can feel the pain around this
room, but do we really want
to spend $10,000?"
He suggested that the peti-
tioners donate money toward
the special/election.
City Manager Leslie Tigan
went on to say that if the
council were to not adopt the
resolution authorizing the
special election, election code
would require the county
clerk to hold the election. It
would save the city money to
hold the election themselves.
She said that April 10 was
established as Election Day
and ballots had to be received
by that day, whether by mail
or by drop-off at City Hall.
Voters will receive their bal-
lots in the mail and their
votes will be counted by a bal-
lot counting board at City
Hall.
The ballot would consist of
two questions: 1) D'o you wish
to recall Dan Wilson from the
City Council -- yes or no? and
2) In the event of a successful
recall, which of these candi-
dates do you wish as replace-
ment?
The resolution also set ttie
filing period for candidates
wishing to replace Wilson, in
the event that the recall is
successful. Registered voters
wishing to file for candidacy
can do so between Dec. 21 and
Jan. 12 at City Hall. Election
packets can be picked up at
City Hall and require 20 sig-
natures for nomination.
David White then asked
where were the 300 people
who had signed the petition,
noting that the opinions of
those in the room were very
divided. He was of the opin-
ion that, especially in a small
community, people should at-
tend their council meetings
and participate in local gov-
ernment. Although this was
the first time he had attended
a Portola council meeting, he
had attended many other
council meetings in other
places.
He was impressed that all
his questions to the city were
answered quickly and well
and his comments were not
restricted by a time limit. So
where were the 300?
Rowden-Dansby, who has
not attended recent council
meetings, responded that for
every person who attended
the meeting that evening, an-
other 10 people stood behind
him or her.
She said they were target-
ing Wilson, not for malfea-
sance or nonfeasance, but for
misfeasance -- not being re-
• sponsive to constituents.
Citizen Carolyn Szczerby
asked Rowden-Dansby, "What
about the other four? What
did they do? How did they
vote? You are picking on one
person and one vote."
Rowden-Dansby replied
that the question of who
should be recalled came up
and was discussed (by the cit-
izens group), "It was Mr. Wil-
son who unilaterally made
the decision to end the ad hoc
committee, called it a 'witch
hunt,' told us we were dis-
gruntled citizens, and he
made a unilateral decision.
That, to me, says he's the
leader of the gang."