Court Puts Ballots in Recall of Avenal Councilmembers Under Lock and Key

Court Puts Ballots in Recall of Avenal Councilmembers Under Lock and Key

Voters in the small farming city of Avenal were asked whether to recall four of five city councilmembers. And, although the election concluded Tuesday night, the results aren’t known. That’s because in the latest turn in this long and winding story an appeal court ordered the ballots placed under lock and key. The city, in a lawsuit attempting to block the recall, said it has sole authority to conduct the election, which it never permitted. To u…

Appeals court allows Avenal recall to continue, orders ballots be sequestered

Ballots cast in Tuesday’s Avenal City Council recall election will not be counted until a state appellate court gives the green light to do so.  The City of Avenal has filed an appeal in its fight with Kings County, seeking urgent review from the Fifth District Court of Appeal.  The backstory: Last July, a group of Avenal residents organized an effort to recall Mayor Alvaro Preciado and City Councilmembers Leticia Gamez, David Reynosa and Pablo …