YORBA LINDA : Recall Bid’s Leader Criticized by Mayor

Mayor John M. Gullixson on Wednesday called an effort to recall him the work of a “defeated political machine” and criticized its leader, former City Councilman Irwin Fried.

“Irwin Fried is convinced that people made a mistake in defeating him last November,” Gullixson said. “He is looking at . . . getting a chance to run against me in a recall election.”

Fried, who filed the recall notice at Tuesday’s council meeting, finished fourth in a field of five candidates for three seats in last November’s election. His defeat concluded 16 years on the council, the last as mayor. Gullixson was not up for reelection.

Gullixson said he was not surprised by Fried’s actions.

“I have watched Mr. Fried since his defeat,” the mayor said. “He has basically been driven by his desire to be returned to council. Everybody knows Irwin is running for the 1994 election.”

The grounds for removal listed in the recall notice are based on Gullixson’s efforts to force the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District to build a high school in Yorba Linda. Fried and his fellow petitioners accuse the mayor of:

* Attempting to establish a high school in Yorba Linda for personal reasons at a cost of $50 million.

* Misrepresenting the need for a new high school for personal reasons.

* Attempting to usurp the powers and responsibilities of the school district’s Board of Trustees.

* Creating friction and dissension between the City Council and the school board.

* Failure to represent all of the citizens of Yorba Linda.

In addition to Fried, the recall notice was signed by Theresa Weissman, Robert McNamara, John Madrick and Jerald L. Lone.

Fried said he became convinced that Gullixson’s efforts to establish a high school were dividing the community after the City Council and the school board held a joint meeting in February.

The mayor’s efforts have pitted members of the community against each other, Fried said.

“You have torn this community apart, divided us and set us against one another, east side against west side, families with children against families with no children, senior citizens against younger citizens and school district supporters against school district destroyers,” Fried said to Gullixson on Tuesday night.

Since his election in 1990, Gullixson has campaigned for a high school in Yorba Linda. Currently, high school students living in the city attend either Troy High School in Fullerton or Esperanza High School in Anaheim.

After the council voted him mayor, Gullixson stepped up the pressure on the school board and district officials. In March, the council adopted a resolution, drafted by Gullixson, criticizing the district for its hesitancy in building schools Yorba Linda.

In an interview Wednesday, Fried would not comment on whether he plans to run against Gullixson. He also denied that he was motivated by bitterness over his defeat.

“I have felt a tremendous reservoir of unhappiness with Gullixson’s remarks and behavior,” he said. “Based on that, and because I’m a lawyer and familiar with the process, I thought it was appropriate that I initiate this action.”

Gullixson has seven days to respond to the notice. Fried will then have 10 days to file a copy of the petition and Gullixson’s response with the city clerk. If the clerk certifies that the petition conforms with state law, Fried and the other petitioners have 120 days to get the required number of signatures to force a recall election.