As one San Diego City Council member was sworn into office last week, plans were set in motion to take another one out.
On June 12, Councilwoman Donna Frye was sworn in to represent the 6th District after winning a special election June 5. That same day, a group of citizens in the 2nd District filed papers to recall their councilman, Byron Wear.
Critics of the representative, who has served the district for more than six years, filed formal papers early last week declaring their intention to begin the recall process.
The group, called the Committee to Recall Byron Wear, said the councilman does not listen to the needs of voters in the district, but favors big business instead.
“This is the first step toward Wear’s recall,” said Kent C. Wilson, an attorney and member of the recall committee. “Mr. Wear has lost touch with voters in the district by favoring outside big money interests over neighborhood objections and concerns.”
According to the city clerk’s office, the committee must gather 13,162 signatures, or 15 percent of the district’s registered voters, to get the recall on the ballot. After the votes are verified by the city clerk’s office, the City Council would call a special election.
If a recall election is held, voters would be asked if they support the recall, and if so, who should serve the remainder of Wear’s term, which expires in December 2002.
Those behind the effort include opponents of the redevelopment of the former Naval Training Center in Point Loma, those opposed to the recently imposed trial alcohol ban on Mission Beach and opponents of planned developments surrounding Mission Bay Park, particularly the expansion of SeaWorld San Diego.
Not all citizens of the district, which includes Mission Beach, Mission Hills, Ocean Beach, Point Loma and University Heights, portions of Downtown and Pacific Beach, are upset over the councilman’s work.
Supporters of Wear held a rally after notice of the recall was posted and said they will fight to assure he completes his term in office.
“People are free to collect signatures,” said Kevin Faulconer, a board member of the Mission Bay Committee. “It’s a democratic society. They can do what they want. But, we are free to fight this.”
Faulconer, also a member of the city’s parks and recreation board, plans to run for Wear’s office, which he will vacate regardless of the recall effort because of term limits. Wear told those gathered at the Point Loma rally that he plans to fight the recall. He called the effort a “narrow, special-interest recall boondoggle” with no merit.
When asked if the recall effort will be a distraction for him, Wear said it will not stop him from doing his job.
“There is much work to be done in my remaining year and a half,” Wear said. “And we are not going to let any special interest stop (us) from working together to get the job done.”
If the measure fails, some would think the mere fact that a recall effort existed might cast a negative shadow on a political career. Wear is not among them.
“If Dianne Feinstein could survive a recall (effort) as mayor of San Francisco and become a U.S. senator, it will have no impact on my career,” he said.
The last recall effort against a City Council member occurred in 1997, when critics tried to oust Harry Mathis and Barbara Warden. The efforts, however, didn’t meet the signature requirements.
The last successful campaign to unseat a council member occurred in 1991, when Linda Bernhardt was voted out of office.
