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Drive to recall Crystal River official loses momentum
By ALEX LEARY, Times Staff Writer
CRYSTAL RIVER -- It was a determined effort, one that once again cast light on the city's harsh politics. But in the end, it fell short. John Kendall will remain in office. Critics of the outspoken City Council member needed 330 signatures to proceed with a recall attempt. But of the 359 signatures submitted, only 309 were deemed valid by the Supervisor of Elections Office. The rest were disqualified for various reasons, including 13 duplicates and 12 signed by people who live outside the city limits. Nine people asked that their petitions be withdrawn. "I'm glad it's over officially," Kendall said after Monday night's council meeting, where City Clerk Louise Berube announced the final count. Berube's own review two weeks ago made it clear that the recall had failed. "All I can say is thanks to the people who supported me," said Kendall, who had planned to fight the recall in court, saying the petition lacked evidence of wrongdoing. The recall petition sought to remove him on the grounds of misfeasance and incompetence. It asserted that Kendall launched "unfounded attacks" against city staffers and violated a charter provision that bars dealing with officials except through the city manager. Kendall, in the second year of a three-year term, accused detractors of distorting his views on the Police Department and relationship with former City Manager Phil Lilly to obtain petition signatures, Lilly's included. Therefore, he said, he did not attach significance to the fact that several hundred people supported his removal. "In political life, you will have people who disagree with you no matter what you do. You just can't please everybody all the time," said Kendall, 74. One of his supporters, former council member Alex Ilnyckyj, said the recall damaged the city's image. "To disrupt the city with this nonsense and to give a city a bad name, that's awful," Ilnyckyj said. But the woman who organized the recall, Brendalee Combrink, said she accomplished what she set out to do. "My first and foremost goal was to get Crystal River citizens excited about their government. If nothing else, it humbled Kendall." Combrink, who does not live in the city herself, said she did not plan to start another recall petition but vowed to keep pressure on City Hall. "I don't think it's over yet," she said, declining to be more specific. Some people say they are upset with Berube's handling of the petition, while others contend it was the clerk's responsibility to check for accuracy before sending them to the Supervisor of Elections Office. Combrink has her own problems with Crystal River. The city has taken her to small claims court over an unpaid $440 bill for police services for a fund-raiser she organized in summer 2001. And the business she worked for, Nature Coast Trading Co., was cited several times for code violations. The company's antiques mall on U.S. 19 is now closed. -- Alex Leary can be reached at (352)564-3623 or leary@sptimes.com .
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