The San Bernardino city clerk has delivered a setback to proponents of a recall targeting Councilmember Theodore Sanchez.
The People of San Bernardino, a nonprofit that has announced recall attempts against Sanchez and Councilmember Fred Shorett, filed its notice of intent to circulate a recall petition against Sanchez on Monday, Feb. 24.
According to city clerk Genoveva Rocha, however, she denied the nonprofit’s paperwork days after it was filed due to inadequacies in the petition.
“After reviewing it, I have determined that it does not comply with the California Elections Code,” Rocha wrote in an email Thursday, Feb. 27.
In a letter to Arthur Anderson, a representative for The People of San Bernardino, Rocha said the group’s petition contained incorrect wording in the introductory paragraph and information, such as address or ZIP code, was incomplete for some who signed the petition.
On Feb. 19, Anderson addressed the council during the public comment segment of its meeting, calling out Sanchez, who represents Ward 1.
“We are serving you with an intent to recall,” Anderson told Sanchez. “You don’t have to accept it by hand, and you can accept it when it arrives in the mail, but we prefer if you accept it by hand so you know it is coming from your community.” Anderson said.
“A recall is what it is, and it will be you against the people and those that run against you,” Anderson added. “We are going to find out, do you think your community stands by you?”
Anderson said Sanchez needs to follow through on being accessible to constituents, creating a homeless committee, and cannabis license reform.
“In this changing world we need to focus on community and the community is not being heard,” Anderson said. “Voters in your community did not participate in your election … with only 800 people who voted for you, if so few people voted for you, who are you representing? Do you care about the community when they didn’t elect you?”
Though Anderson did not address a recall effort against Shorett at the Feb. 19 meeting, the Ward 4 councilmember’s name appears alongside Sanchez’s on The People of San Bernardino website, with a link to donate to both recall campaigns.
Anderson could not be reached for additional comment by late Friday, Feb. 28. Neither Sanchez nor Shorett responded to requests comment.
Sanchez first won office in 2018. Shorett is the longest serving member of the council. He was elected in 2009.
