Abusing the Recall Process

In its zeal to accomplish its goals, the Santa Ana Merged Society of Neighbors sometimes loses sight of of the fact that the means is as important as the end.

The SAMSON group wanted changes in election laws placed before Santa Ana residents in the June election so they would be effective in November, instead of on the November ballot, as the City Council would like. But qualifying the issue for the June election is now doubtful because the SAMSON missed a legal deadline.

So it has come up with the half-baked idea of starting a recall because that way--if it gathered enough signatures--it could force an election in July. It has no real recall target. In the spirit of fairness, SAMSON says, it will put the names of all council members in a hat--and then pick one.

That’s an irresponsible approach and an abuse of the recall machinery. If asked to sign such a petition, voters should tell SAMSON to put it in their hat. That would be fair.