The second full-fledged recall attempt against District Attorney
John Sarsfield failed Friday
– coming 876 signatures shy of making the ballot.
The second full-fledged recall attempt against District Attorney John Sarsfield failed Friday – coming 876 signatures shy of making the ballot.
Though the recall failed, the effort should deliver a sobering message to the district attorney. This is not a victory, but a narrow escape that says more about voter apathy than it does about Sarsfield’s popularity or competency as the lead county prosecutor.
While there were 6,961 signatures on the petition to oust the district attorney from office, only 4,420 were valid. Most of the invalid signatures – 1,546 – were tossed because they were not from registered voters. Another 929 were tossed because the signers had moved and not re-registered, or because they signed twice. That doesn’t show a lack of desire for a recall on the general public’s behalf.
The fact is that while our district attorney is pursuing political vendettas and seriously abusing his authority – and because police do a good job controlling crime – most of his actions don’t affect the lives of the public directly. But that can’t explain the entire reason why the recall failed.
Those mounting the recall must shoulder some of the blame. They, too, suffer from a credibility gap.
Ignacio Velazquez, the owner of The Vault Restaurant who spearheaded the effort, has been in highly-publicized political clashes with the district attorney for more than a year. His attacking style of rough-and-tumble politics likely turns regular people off. That’s too bad, because, in this case, Velazquez was right: Sarsfield has made a mockery of the district attorney’s office and needs to be out of a job.
Those who want Sarsfield out of office must learn a lesson and think deeply about the type of campaign they will wage when the election for district attorney is held in spring of 2006. They must seek candidates and campaign managers free of the political ties and personal vendettas that hold Sarsfield and Velazquez down. Only then will residents regain their faith in the district attorney’s office and the political process in San Benito County.
In that vein, we continue to urge civic-minded local lawyers, perhaps attorney Paul Breen who has been mentioned as a potential candidate, to toss their hat into the race for district attorney. Only with a full field of qualified candidates will San Benito County get a district attorney who has the character, vision and strength to lead this important and powerful office.
As for Teflon John, we recommend listening to the thousands of voters who were angry enough to sign the recall petition. Focus on prosecuting crime and doing the people’s business. Keep politics out of the district attorney’s office.
