Political Turmoil in Avenal Leads to New City Council Election

Things took a significant turn in Avenal, a historic oil city in California, as county officials decided to return four contested City Council seats to the ballot. This decision came just a day after Ricardo Verdugo, the only council member to survive a recall effort, was sworn in as the new mayor.

The Kings County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to proceed with a special election in November. They stated this measure was vital to restore representation after months of chaos resulting from the city’s intense recall battle.

This dramatic step follows an unusual stalemate in Avenal, which has about 13,000 residents and is located roughly 90 miles southwest of Fresno. Four elected officials, who faced overwhelming recall votes back in April, have refused to resign from their positions.

Historically, Avenal thrived following the discovery of oil in the 1930s, enjoying some of the best educational and public services in California by 1940.

Supervisor Richard Vallée, who put forward the motion, expressed that the upcoming special election would fulfill the voters’ demand for proper representation, as reported by ABC30.

Vallée remarked, “It is my great honor and privilege to introduce this motion today to add four seats to the ballot and restore justice, freedom, and democracy to the City of Avenal.”

Kings County Attorney Laurie Buelna highlighted that according to California Election Code Section 11381, those who have been recalled cannot run in any special elections. The county consulted with the California Secretary of State’s office for clarification on this rule.

The timing of the vote is particularly striking, as it occurred just after Verdugo became mayor, intensifying the existing leadership crisis in Avenal.

For the time being, Verdugo will remain in his self-appointed role until the November election, although the city attorney plans to contest this arrangement.

Residents have been actively urging regulators to put an end to the protracted political strife that has engulfed the city.

Board Chairman Doug Verboon mentioned that the supervisors are stepping in on behalf of residents who are frustrated with the ongoing conflict. “We don’t work for the government. We work for the people, but I think the four of us have forgotten who we are working for,” he noted.

This conflict emerged after voters decisively approved the recall of Mayor Alvaro Preciado and City Council members Leticia Gámez, Pablo Hernandez, and David Reynosa, with each recall measure garnering over 76% support.

However, instead of resigning, the recalled officials voted against acknowledging the election outcomes, claiming that Kings County lacked the authority to oversee the recall since it hadn’t formally approved it.

What followed were legal disputes, heated public meetings, and extensive investigations, including law enforcement raids at City Hall, a community center, and several homes linked to city leadership.