Davis ouster could encourage targeting of other elected officials
October 5, 2003
By SPENCER SOPER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Tuesday's recall election also may be a referendum on the recall process, a 92-year-old provision of California's Constitution that empowers voters to remove politicians from office but is only now being put to the ultimate test.
The outcome could have ramifications locally and statewide. If Gov. Gray Davis gets the boot, it could encourage frustrated voters to hit the streets with recall petitions targeting other officeholders.
The frenzy already has hit home on the North Coast. Seven elected officials in Sonoma County are recall targets and an effort is under way to oust Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos.
"If this recall is successful, the message it sends to everybody is how hard can this be," said Sonoma County Supervisor Valerie Brown, who is the target of a recall drive initiated by opponents of a proposed casino near Rohnert Park. "There will be recalls placed all over the county. It's too easy."
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