In about a month, we’ll know if the petition drive to recall three conservative members of the Fullerton City Council for their inaction over the investigation in the fatal beating of Kelly Thomas at the hands of some members of the Fullerton Police Department is successful. The pro-recall movement is spearheaded by Tony Bushala, Fullerton school board member Chris Thompson and the FFFF universe.
The anti-recall forces are striking back in the form of a mailer suggesting Bushala and Thompson have been arrested seven times and may have committed voter fraud. The PDF of this mailer is here:
The text of their pitch is:
The Orange County District Attorney is reviewing at least seven criminal trespassing cases against Fullerton recall petition circulators, including recall leaders Tony Bushala and Chris Thompson. Each case is punishable by six months in jail or a $1,000 fine.
Bushala and Thompson have been arrested multiple times for going onto private property and bullying people into signing the recall petitions against Councilmen Dick Jones, Don Bankhead, and Mayor Pro Tem Pat McKinley.
As a last resort local supermarket managers and residents have been forced to call the police to makecitizens arrests on Bushala and his bullies.
They can’t take no for an answer. Instead they badger, intimidate, and harass Fullerton residentsto the point where the police are called. Bushala and Thompson need to be stopped.
The campaign is clearly targeted against Tony Bushala and doesn’t address the actions (or inactions) of the Fullerton City Council members who are the targets of the recall effort. A citizen’s arrest is a far cry from Bushala and Thompson being led away in handcuffs. So, for me, the mailer fails the truthiness test (as do many of the comments on the investigation and the Kelly Thomas case on the FFFF blog do as well).
We’ve said before, the recall in Fullerton is an excellent opportunity for two Democrats to make a move and turn Fullerton into the latest city with a Democratic Majority – and one that will provide more aid and comfort to the homeless and the mentally ill.
Dont you mean 3 dems? Arent three reps being recalled?
Henry,
Three would be great. But two is all that is needed to achieve a Democratic majority. Quirk-Silva is a Democrat.
Ah. I was referring to oneof the last lines in the post. the way it reads it amde me second guess the number of council members being recalled.
Just asking, but when did it become the responsibility of any municipality to provide aid for the mentaly ill and homeless? Isn’t this the function of county, state and federal governments?
“.. the recall in Fullerton is an excellent opportunity for two Democrats to make a move and turn Fullerton into the latest city with a Democratic Majority ..”
I am surprised that you would use the beating death of Kelly Thomas for political opportunism Dan. That is not what this is about.
If that is their objective they will fail and that would be unfortunate.
Should there be a Recall Election, on the off chance that it will remove members of the current Council, it is prudent for Democrats to seek more progressive representaton. It is not “taking advantage” if you stay neutral on the issue of the Recall, but offer alternatives just in case it passes.
I think that all three of those dipwads are going down – but it would be a good idea to leave politics out of the equation until they are gone.
Stay neutral on the issue of the recall? How progressive! No registered Fullerton voter can remain neutral on the recall. The qualification threshold for the recall signatures is based upon a percentage of registered voters. Just sitting on the sidelines is an endorsement for the status quo and a prescription for political muscle atrophy. Sign or don’t sign. There are no neutral stances.
To say the Ackerman mailer doesn’t pass the ‘truthiness’ test is an understatement, and the parenthetical adjunct about random FFFF commenters is irrelevant. The Recall folks are doing all the heavy lifting. To think some sleepy ne’er-do-wells can suddenly muster ability to fill those positions with credible candidates is laughable.
“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste” –congratulations to both sides for learning your lessons so well!
GO DEMS!
No surprise these mailers fail the truthiness test. They’re made by two of the sleaziest political operatives in the county, Dave Ellis and Dick Ackerman. (Consult my blog for chapter and verse on those two.)
Doesn’t the text say, “have been forced to call the police to make citizens arrests on Bushala and his bullies…” Police making citizens’ arrests? They’re not even trying to make sense.
The best person running right now that I know of is not a Democrat or Republican but an old Green ally of mine named Jane Rands. If what you’re wanting is a PROGRESSIVE majority then count Jane in. Someone doesn’t need to be in the blue party to be a great councilperson.
I’m a Libertarian but will support Jane Rands. She is not a “nanny-state” type liberal, and will definitely makes sure FPD is reigned in.