Effort to Oust Assemblyman Anthony Adams Fails

Majority of Petition’s Signatures Disqualified by Secretary of State

An Orange County Republican who declared that fellow Republican Anthony Adams’ pledge to not raise taxes was broken when the Assemblyman of the 59th District joined Democrats in the California Assembly to vote a tax increase package, has failed in his attempt to recall Adams and remove him from office, the California Secretary of State announced Friday. Atlas Political Action Committee, headed by Mike Schroeder, a former California Republican Party chairman, Lee Lowry, and Tim Whitacre had mounted the campaign against Adams. The original petition papers were filed by David T. Bartels, an Irvine attorney.

Raucous rallies to promote the recall campaign were well-attended when they were held in the two counties Adams’ district encompasses: one in Apple Valley, the other in Glendora. Radio talk-show hosts John and Ken were instrumental in pounding the theme that Adams, in voting to raise taxes, was at philosophical odds with the conservative side of the Republican Party. While those rallies drew large crowds, the petition campaign apparently received little backing from registered voters who could have insisted on a special election. The radio personalities provided monetary support for the recall campaign, raising some $70,000 from its loyal listener base. The Atlas PAC itself was not heavily funded according to reports they filed with the California Secretary of State.

The California Secretary of State’s announcement that a lack of valid signatures necessary to qualify an election was unmet was surprising as over 58,000 signatures had been obtained by the recall group. State rules required signatures from 35,825 registered voters, a number derived from 20% of those casting ballots in the 59th District Assembly race in the previous election. Petitioners were also required by State law to be registered voters within the District and reveal the petitioner’s name and local address when asking voters to sign requesting the recall election. The strict voter requirements for signatories of the petition may have caused the PAC’s failure to provide sufficient numbers.

Various news sources say that while 58,384 signatures were gathered but 24,579, only 42 %, were declared valid in the two county’s Registrar of Voters offices. Both County Registrars performed the count which was done on a random basis as required by State law—500 from Los Angeles County and 1,339 from San Bernardino County. While 65% in the sampling in Los Angeles County were valid, (325 of 500) less than half could be certified in petitions signed in San Bernardino County (661 of 1,339). A “full check” can only occur if a recall count were to reach a 95% level of the required signature amount. The recall issue is now closed, but voters will have an opportunity to express their views in next year’s June Primary. Adams has said that most constituents he talked did not support his action to vote for the temporary tax increase but were not supportive of recall efforts.

This is the second recall effort this year against Adams. E.T. Snell filed with the California Secretary of State on March 9, 2009 and David T. Bartels filed recall papers on April 13, 2009. Now, both have failed.

Assemblyman Adams had told Beacon Media in April that he would fight the recall attempt, saying, “I’ll do everything that is necessary” [to make the campaign fail]. But his response when told of the disqualification of the recall ballot seemed quite muted. “I’m pleased that the two counties I represent won’t be forced to hold an expensive election at a time when they simply can’t afford it. I’m grateful to all those who voiced their support of me throughout this process,” he said.

Adams was able to attract funds in advance of any recall he may have had to fight. Adams Against the Recall, Friends of Anthony raised funds from major contributors including the California Real Estate PAC, Anthem Blue Cross, California Dental PAC and others raising $45,800 through June of this year.

Adams, for his part, will continue his efforts in the California State Assembly to reconcile a budget deficit now expected to reach over $20 billion between now and the time the Legislature enacts a 2010-11 state budget. “We knew going into this year’s budget cycle that California’s broken system wasn’t going to be fixed overnight,” the Assemblyman said.
Adams has served in the State Assembly since 1996 when he succeeded Dennis Mountjoy. In 2008 Adams won re-election with 55.8% of the vote in his District. His term ends in 2010.

The 59th District Adams represents stretches from high desert communities like Hesperia and mountain communities of Lake Arrowhead and Cedar Glen to the San Bernardino valley and westward into Claremont, Glendora, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Arcadia and La Crescenta.

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