They sprinted out of the blocks, or so it seemed. But a campaign
to recall District Attorney John Sarsfield has since slowed to a
halt. Some believe the effort is dead.
Other than a scattering of ad hoc signs favoring a recall and a
few letters to newspapers, the campaign to remove him from office,
for now, is all but nonexistent.
Hollister – They sprinted out of the blocks, or so it seemed. But a campaign to recall District Attorney John Sarsfield has since slowed to a halt. Some believe the effort is dead.
Other than a scattering of ad hoc signs favoring a recall and a few letters to newspapers, the campaign to remove him from office, for now, is all but nonexistent.
Officials and residents interviewed Thursday said the recall has failed to gain steam and not much has happened since it was launched in July.
Even Bob Wilson, the recall group’s spokesman, conceded the group must raise its sense of urgency if it hopes to collect 5,201 signatures by the Dec. 3 deadline. If they do, and Registrar John Hodges gives enough signatures the stamp of approval, the county would hold a special election some time in 2005.
The group hasn’t held a meeting in two or three weeks, he said. He didn’t know how many signatures the group had collected as of Thursday.
“It’s got to get legs pretty damn soon. I understand that,” said Wilson, a retired school teacher.
He and 36 others signed and filed the “notice of intention to recall” the district attorney July 21. They have not, however, filed the necessary documents to start a fund-raising committee, according to Hodges. And they’ve done little signature collecting, Wilson said.
“I haven’t heard a thing – I mean, not a word,” said Hodges, the county’s head elections official.
Hodges isn’t alone. Other county officials – including supervisors Reb Monaco and Ruth Kesler, and Marshal Robert Scattini – also say they haven’t seen any sign of life in the campaign.
“I think it’s fizzled out,” Scattini said. “I think they found out it’s going to cost too much money.”
Even a recall proponent, longtime resident Eva Reyna, said she hasn’t heard much about the effort lately.
“No, I haven’t heard nothing. Nothing!” Reyna said.
Wilson said the group still intends to form an official fund-raising committee, as required by state law to raise money for campaigns. They haven’t “gone wholehearted yet,” Wilson acknowledged. He said recall proponents are “kind of biding our time here.”
Sarsfield also hasn’t seen or heard much from recall supporters in recent weeks. He stands by his offer to meet with them to discuss whatever problems they have with his performance.
Recall proponents have claimed Sarsfield has mistreated crime victims; inappropriately negotiated plea bargains; lied about asking the FBI to investigate claims he was extorted; and never set foot in a courtroom, among other allegations.
Sarsfield denies the claims and says the office has improved since he succeeded former DA Harry Damkar in January 2003. Sarsfield again mentioned his increased enforcement of gangs, environmental crimes and school truancy as examples of reasons why he shouldn’t be recalled.
“There are people out there, no matter what I do, they’re going to not like me. They’re going to not support me,” said Sarsfield, who has blamed a group of local defense attorneys, including his opponent in the 2002 race Art Cantu, for spurring a hostile sentiment toward him.
The recall group launched the campaign less than three weeks after two of Sarsfield’s workers sued him for sexual harassment. The lawsuit claims the prosecutor had been having an affair with the office manager, and that it led to a hostile and unfair workplace.
Then, only eight days after recall proponents filed their intention notice, Sarsfield’s two dogs were poisoned with antifreeze and died. Sarsfield has been open about his opinion on the subject, saying repeatedly he believes recall supporters were somehow involved with the death of his dogs.
“I don’t believe in coincidences,” Sarsfield said.
Sarsfield believes the poisoning of his dogs ended the recall campaign’s chances for success, he said.
Wilson also believes the poisonings have been a roadblock for the campaign because of ensuing public sympathy for the district attorney and his family.
But Wilson, who denounces the notion that recall supporters may have committed the crimes, also believes Sarsfield has exploited the poisoning issue to gain sympathy.
Regardless, Wilson said the group remains committed to the getting a recall on the ballot. He hopes more people with standing in the community comes forward to support the campaign.
Kollin Kosmicki covers politics for the Free Lance. Reach him at 637-5566, ext. 331, or kk*******@fr***********.com.
