Bellflower : Councilman Faces Recall Drive Over Casino Vote

Citizens for a Better Bellflower, a recently formed organization, has filed notification with the city announcing its intention to recall Councilman Ken Cleveland.

Art Olivier, leader of the group, said the recall effort began in response to Cleveland’s support for a proposal to put a card club in the city. Along with Mayor Bob Stone and Councilman Bill Pendleton, Cleveland voted to hold a citywide election on the issue. The vote, held in August, ended with the defeat of the proposed club.

Despite the club’s defeat at the polls, Olivier said, voters are still angry with the council. Stone and Pendleton are up for reelection in April, and the citizens’ group will try to defeat them also, Olivier said.

If the group’s notice of recall and petition statement is approved by the city clerk, it would have to collect about 5,000 signatures to put the measure on the April ballot, Olivier said.