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Review of petitions shrinks recall effort
By ALEX LEARY, Times Staff Writer
CRYSTAL RIVER -- What was an ample cushion in the effort to remove John Kendall from the City Council appears to have collapsed, an official said Monday after reviewing 359 signed recall petitions. City Clerk Louise Berube said she found 28 petitions that could be disqualified for various reasons -- 12 listed addresses outside city limits, for example -- and one other that will be pulled at the request of the person who signed it. If Berube's count holds with the Supervisor of Elections Office, that would leave 330 petitions, the minimum number needed to proceed with the recall. But if another person withdraws a petition before Berube sends the papers to Inverness, it could mark a swift end to the effort. "I think we're going to knock it out," said Jack Titus, a Kendall supporter who said he knew of several people planning to rescind their petitions today. Titus said some these voters were under the impression that Kendall wanted to get rid of the Police Department and was the reason that former City Manager Phil Lilly quit. "They (petition organizers) are playing dirty pool," Titus said. Kendall, who has said both of those claims are untrue, declined to comment Monday. The woman organizing the recall said the primary goal had already been accomplished. "If nothing else, we've educated the people. We've created a movement," Brendalee Combrink said Monday. If Kendall remaims in office, Combrink added, "I guarantee you he won't be re-elected." Kendall, 74, has just begun the second year of a three-year term. The recall petition seeks to remove him on the grounds of misfeasance and incompetence. It asserts that Kendall launched "unfounded attacks" against various city officials, including the police chief, and violated a charter provision that bars dealing with officials except through the city manager. Kendall says the charges are too vague to meet the law. City attorney David La Croix concurs and warns that the city could be forced to pick up Kendall's legal bills should Kendall prevail in court. Last week was the second time Combrink submitted petitions. She and others, including former council member Mike Gudis, whom Kendall defeated in November 2001, obtained 259 signatures this fall; 251 were verified by the Supervisor of Elections Office. That was one more than needed to proceed to the next step, which called for the recall committee to circulate the same petition along with a defense statement from Kendall. This time, according to state law, organizers needed signatures from 15 percent of registered voters, which means they need 330 names. If enough are validated, a date for a special ballot vote would be set. Kendall has said he would then contest the recall in court. Of the 359 petitions turned in last Monday, 29 could be disqualified, Berube said. Eleven people signed two petitions; five were signed on one date but witnessed (a requirement under the law) by another person on another date; 12 were from people who live outside city limits; and one person asked that his petition be withdrawn. -- Alex Leary can be reached at (352) 564-3623 or leary@sptimes.com .
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