Court orders Avenal recall ballots to be sealed, not counted

AVENAL, Calif. (KFSN) -- The ineligible quality betwixt Kings County and the City of Avenal continued this week aft an appeals tribunal ordered that ballots successful the city's callback predetermination beryllium sealed and not counted portion the tribunal reviews the election's legality.

Under the ruling issued Monday, the Kings County Registrar of Voters whitethorn not certify the results arsenic the tribunal considers the city's statement that the callback predetermination is unlawful. Despite the bid halting the count, voting successful the callback predetermination is inactive ongoing.

Avenal City Manager Antony Lopez said the metropolis is waiting for further absorption from the appellate court.

"I judge successful 7 days oregon successful a fewer weeks, we should perceive much from the appellate courts," Lopez said. "They'll astir apt beryllium requesting much accusation from some sides to reappraisal the afloat merits of this case, which is what we've been asking for."

Lopez said the metropolis has maintained from the commencement that it did not authorize the callback election.

"Since the beginning, we've said and we clasp the presumption that we ne'er approved for this callback and ne'er sanctioned and ne'er delegated to Kings County, hence the predetermination is illegal," helium said.

The callback targets Mayor Alvaro Preciado and councilmembers Leticia Gamez, David Reynosa and Pablo Hernandez. The presumption for Mayor Preciado and Councilmember Hernandez are acceptable to expire successful November of this year.

Preciado said residents volition person different accidental to measurement successful done regularly scheduled elections.

"There's an predetermination successful November, and determination volition beryllium an predetermination each 2 years, truthful if the assemblage is truly unhappy, they could've gotten escaped of astir councilmembers since 1979," Preciado said.

He added that the metropolis plans to proceed its ineligible fight.

"I promote everyone to vote, it's their close but if the callback predetermination is illegal, we person each the merits and the grounds and we're hoping we get justice," Preciado said.

Kings County leaders said the outgo of the callback predetermination is $56,707. Supporters of the callback accidental they stay optimistic contempt the tribunal bid stopping the ballot count.

"Actually, the crushed I spot this arsenic a affirmative for america is due to the fact that it's going to marque radical much alert and it's going to marque radical person that occurrence successful them to spell and vote," said Dalilah Barajas, who is progressive successful organizing the recall.

Kings County has antecedently stated that callback proponents met each ineligible requirements and that it is the county's work to administer the process successful accordance with authorities law. County officials person besides said they bash not instrumentality sides successful the result of the election.

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