The mayor of a former California oil boomtown engulfed in a bitter recall battle is refusing to step aside despite being overwhelmingly voted out of office, insisting he’ll remain in power until a judge decides if the election was legal.
Avenal Mayor Alvaro Preciado broke his silence in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle as he and two fellow recalled councilmembers continue serving despite voters removing four of the city’s five elected leaders in an April recall election.
Preciado voted with councilmembers Leticia Gamez and Pablo Hernandez during a June 11 meeting to reject the recall results and remain in office, arguing the election was unlawfully conducted by Kings County without City Council authorization.
Asked whether he would step down if a judge rules against him, Preciado told the Chronicle: “That’s a legal question that we will probably be looking at. If it was a legal election from the beginning, I wouldn’t be here right now.”
The ongoing dispute has divided the small Kings County former oil boomtown of about 13,000 residents, roughly 60 miles southwest of Fresno.
Voters recalled four of the five City Council members in April, with each recall measure receiving at least 76% support.
The recalled officials previously sued to stop the recall election, but the 5th District Court of Appeals ruled the ongoing vote count could not be halted.
The legal battle took another turn this week when California Attorney General Rob Bonta approved a quo warranto action against the recalled officials, clearing the way for recall organizers to file a lawsuit challenging the councilmembers’ right to remain in office.
Election law experts say the rarely used legal process is designed for situations like the one now unfolding in Avenal.
Preciado says Kings County exceeded its authority by administering the recall election.
“The County has no stake in the outcome of the recall election,” Kings County Executive Officer Kyria Martinez told the outlet. “Its role is simply to uphold the law and ensure that the voices of the voters, who followed the established process, are heard.”
The fight has also grown increasingly personal.
Preciado and other city leaders, who are Latino, have said they faced threats and racist comments during the recall battle.
During the June 11 meeting, one resident questioned whether a councilmember spoke English, while other remarks during public comment sparked outrage and accusations of racism.
“Never before have I seen this,” Preciado said.
“We’re just trying to move the city in a good direction, and trying to make the best decisions that will benefit the whole community, not only a section of the community.”
The city later issued a statement condemning “threats of violence, intimidations, racist remarks and disparaging comments directed at public officials, city staff or members of the community.”
The next Avenal City Council meeting is scheduled for June 25, and recall supporters say they will continue pushing for the four recalled officials to leave office.
