Monterey Park : Recall Election Date Moved

The City Council has moved the election that will determine whether two council members will be recalled from June 2 to June 16.

The council had planned to consolidate the recall vote with a community college election, but decided it would rather hold the city election separately so that it could be run by the city clerk.

Councilwoman Patricia Reichenberger, one of the recall targets, said there have been so many complaints of voter fraud in past elections that the city needs to maintain tight control over the balloting. Reichenberger and Councilman Barry Hatch were forced into the recall election by petitioners who have accused them of being racially motivated, insensitive to the housing needs of senior citizens and irresponsible in their city planning activities.

Reichenberger and Hatch said the recall effort has been contrived by developers who had profited from lax planning regulations until a new council was elected last year.