Avenal council members defy recall vote, stay in office amid lawsuits

Avenal, a 13,500-person city in California’s Central Valley, held a historic recall in April that removed mayor Alvaro Preciado and three council members after voters overwhelmingly supported the measure. The recalled officials, together with city manager Antony López, have refused to step down, arguing the recall was improperly administered and continuing to conduct council business while filing multiple lawsuits, including a quo warranto action approved by the state attorney general.

The dispute was ignited by the city’s decision last year to replace Kings County fire services with a volunteer department, a move that led the county district attorney to sue for alleged violations of the Brown Act. Tensions have escalated with accusations of racist language and threats from both sides, prompting investigations by the Kings County district attorney and the California attorney general. Local residents, including recall organizers Delila Barajas and Ginger Wallis, express frustration and fear that the standoff undermines democratic norms. Experts such as Zev Yaroslavsky warn that allowing recalled officials to remain in power could erode the purpose of recall mechanisms statewide.