{"id":2619591,"date":"2026-06-26T14:21:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T18:21:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/recalled-ca-city-council-members-dig-in-as-legal-battle-escalates\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T14:25:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T18:25:18","slug":"recalled-ca-city-council-members-dig-in-as-legal-battle-escalates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/recalled-ca-city-council-members-dig-in-as-legal-battle-escalates\/","title":{"rendered":"Recalled CA city council members dig in as legal battle escalates"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frecalled-ca-city-council-members-dig-in-as-legal-battle-escalates%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2619591&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A small California town, Avenal, is embroiled in a heated political dispute after voters recall four of its five city council members due to disagreements over fire protection changes. Despite winning the recall election by large margins, the ousted officials, supported by the current mayor, have refused to step down, claiming the election process was invalid.This has led to tense public meetings marked by shouting matches and protests, including residents demanding the officials leave office. Law enforcement has been involved, warning the recalled members against acting in office, and legal actions are underway, notably a quo warranto proceeding authorized by California&#8217;s attorney General to determine the legality of their continued authority. the situation has transformed the community into a focal point of election dispute and legal challenge, highlighting unusual interactions between local politics and the courts.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The drama in a small <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"60\">California<\/a> town between its residents and four recalled city council members who <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4616484\/california-councilmembers-refuse-leave-office\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4616484\/california-councilmembers-refuse-leave-office\/\">refuse to leave office<\/a> is showing no signs of letting up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Carrying posters reading \u201cExit!\u201d and \u201cGet out, not wanted,\u201d dozens of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityofavenal.gov\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.cityofavenal.gov\/\">Avenal<\/a> residents packed Thursday night\u2019s city council meeting, after the elected leaders voted to keep themselves in office despite a landslide recall election.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4626276\/california-billionaire-tax-proposal-voters-newsom-national\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>California\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >billionaire tax proposal heads<\/a> to voters as Newsom pushes national wealth tax<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4626248\/wes-moore-plans-july-fourth-speech-counter-programming-trump\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Wes Moore plans July 4th speech as counter-programming to Trump: \u2018Nation of sacrifice\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4625810\/dsa-eyes-national-expansion-new-york-wins-democrats-brace-new-primary-fights\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DSA eyes national expansion after New York wins as Democrats brace for new primary fights<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shouting matches erupted within minutes between residents and council members, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/warnock-voter-registration-group-under-investigation-for-election-law-violations\/\" title=\"Warnock Voter-Registration Group Under Investigation for ... Law Violations\">local news reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s time to step down,\u201d Sheila Verdugo, the wife of the only councilman not recalled, said before she was cut off, the <em>San Francisco Chronicle<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/california\/article\/avenal-city-council-hearing-22319674.php\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/california\/article\/avenal-city-council-hearing-22319674.php\">reported<\/a>. \u201cJust table this, the whole meeting.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Avenal Mayor Alvaro Preciado, who was also recalled and has vowed to remain in office until a court removes him, warned that police would escort anyone violating meeting protocol out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Four officers then approached the audience, prompting several residents to confront them, arguing they had no obligation to follow the directions of elected officials whom they had already ousted in an April special election. Moments later, most of the roughly 40 residents walked out in protest.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In most places, getting recalled means packing up your office and handing over the keys. But in the small California town, it has instead sparked a political standoff that has spilled onto social media, into packed public meetings, and now into the courts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kings County District Attorney Sarah Hacker and Sheriff Dave Putnam have warned the recalled officials that they risk legal repercussions if they continue acting as elected officials or authorize the expenditure of public funds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ricardo Verdugo, the only city councilman to survive the recall election, cast \u201cno\u201d votes on every item on Thursday\u2019s agenda in protest of his recalled colleagues\u2019 refusal to relinquish their seats.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s simple,\u201d he said. \u201cJust leave. Walk out and step away.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Avenal is home to roughly 13,000 people, with about one-quarter of its population housed at Avenal State Prison, one of the area\u2019s largest employers. The city\u2019s economy is also heavily tied to agriculture, and more than 80% of residents are Latino.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Voters removed four of the city\u2019s five council members, with each recall passing by at least 75% of the vote. The effort stemmed largely from controversy surrounding changes to the city\u2019s fire protection arrangements, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fresnobee.com\/news\/politics-government\/election\/local-election\/article316177685.html\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.fresnobee.com\/news\/politics-government\/election\/local-election\/article316177685.html\">according<\/a> to the <em>Fresno Bee<\/em>. Kings County certified the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-surf-the-red-wave\/\" title=\"Republicans Surf the Red Wave\">special election results<\/a> in May.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But four of the ousted officials have refused to step aside, arguing the election was improperly conducted by Kings County rather than the city and therefore should not be recognized.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The dispute has turned the community, about an hour southwest of Fresno, into an unlikely sequel to election-denial politics, with residents and recalled officials locked in a fight over who actually won and who still gets to govern.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fight first escalated during a June 11 meeting, when Preciado and recalled council members Leticia Gamez and Pablo Hernandez voted to keep themselves in office. David Reynosa, the fourth recalled councilman, was absent. The council then proceeded with business as usual, approving the city\u2019s budget even as recall supporters presented a restraining order seeking to force the officials from office.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The legal battle began before the recall election was complete. In April, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-councilmembers-refuse-to-leave-office-sparking-legal-battle\/\" title=\"California ...members refuse to ..., sparking legal battle\">targeted council members asked<\/a> the courts to stop the election, but California\u2019s 5th District Court of Appeals declined to intervene, allowing the vote count to continue.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, recall supporters are pursuing a different strategy. Earlier this month, California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) authorized a quo warranto action, a little-used legal proceeding that challenges whether a public official is lawfully holding office. Under state law, the attorney general\u2019s approval is required before such a case can proceed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The decision cleared the way for recall advocates to file suit in the state\u2019s superior court.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In his opinion, Bonta wrote that \u201cthe application raises a substantial legal issue and resolution of that issue would serve the public interest.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4626697\/judge-declares-mistrial-palisades-fire-arson-case-jury-deadlocks\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4626697\">JUDGE DECLARES MISTRIAL IN PALISADES FIRE ARSON CASE AFTER JURY DEADLOCKS <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fight has pushed Avenal into unusual legal territory. Derek Muller, a University of Notre Dame election law professor, told the <em>San Francisco Chronicle<\/em> that quo warranto actions are rarely used in modern election disputes, making the city\u2019s standoff an unusual test of how courts handle elected officials who refuse to leave office after a successful recall.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Multiple calls by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> to the mayor and the recalled city council members\u00a0were not returned.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Avenal residents protest as recalled council members refuse to leave<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2619592,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP19032738021376.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[4045,33772,32869,5894,4455],"class_list":["post-2619591","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-california","tag-city-council","tag-legal-battle","tag-politics","tag-recall"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP19032738021376.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2619591","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2619591"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2619591\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2619595,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2619591\/revisions\/2619595"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2619592"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2619591"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2619591"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2619591"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}