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Kings County elections office begins verifying recall petitions for Avenal council seats
Summary
Elections staff report four recall petitions filed for Avenal council members with each petition submitting roughly 640 signatures (526 required); verification continues through Jan. 7 and a special election could occur March–April if sufficient signatures are certified.
Lupe Villal of the Kings County Elections Office told the Board of Supervisors Nov. 18 that four recall petitions regarding Avenal city council members were submitted by the Nov. 12 deadline and are now in the signature‑validation phase. Villal said the petitions submitted signature counts in the low 640s and the statutory threshold to qualify for the ballot is 526 valid signatures.
Villal said signature validation began the day before the board meeting and must be completed by Jan. 7; if a petition is certified as sufficient, Villal said she intends to present a certificate of sufficiency to the Avenal City Council at its Dec. 11 meeting (if scheduled). If the city fails to call a special election within 14 days of certification, the county elections office may call the election; Villal said a certified petition could lead to a standalone special election in March or April depending on timing.
Board members asked elections staff to consider potential conflicts of interest, citing public conduct by local officials connected to petition activity; Villal said she and county counsel will review issues raised and that the election code sets the statutory steps for calling and conducting a recall election. Villal emphasized the office’s aim is to ensure a fair verification process and, if necessary, a full standalone election for the Avenal community.
No decisions were required of the board; elections staff will complete validation and report back on certifying petition sufficiency.
