Ray Rodriguez recall, Newark Unified School District, California (2014)
From Ballotpedia
| Newark Unified School District recall |
|---|
|
| Officeholders |
| Ray Rodriguez |
| Recall status |
| Did not go to a vote |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2014 Recalls in California California recall laws School board recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Ray Rodriguez from the Newark Unified School District in California was launched in August 2014. The effort to qualify the recall question for the ballot was, however, abandoned short of going to a vote.[1]
The recall effort started over the resignation of the district's superintendent Dave Marken. He resigned following criticism from three other board members: Charlie Mesinger, Nancy Thomas and Gary Stadler. Both Rodriguez and Stadler were served with recall papers, while Mesinger choose not to run for re-election. While Thomas sought re-election, Stadler resigned from the board. Criticism of the board had focused on the other three members of the board, but the recall effort focused on Rodriguez.[2]
Recall supporter arguments
The leader of the recall effort, Jim Lola, argued that Rodriguez could have done more to prevent Marken's resignation. Lola also emphasized an August 9, 2014, meeting of the board where Rodriguez, Stadler and Mesinger rejected Marken's offer to rescind his resignation. The board members originally refused to report their votes on the matter. However, they later revealed their votes following accusations that they had violated open government laws.[2]
Marken stated that he would return to the district if the board members he saw as responsible for the situation are removed. This included Stadler, who resigned upon receiving recall papers, and Mensinger, who did not file to run for re-election in the 2014 general election. Marken stated his willingness to work with board members Jan Crocker and Nancy Thomas, but that he could not work with Rodriguez. Marken accused Rodriguez of "playing games" and trying to mislead the public about his actual stance and role in the matter.[3]
While Rodriguez had not resigned or been recalled, Marken announced he would resume his job as superintendent in the district on September 9, 2014.[4]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in California
The recall process began with the submission of recall papers to Rodriguez and Stadler. Supporters were given 120 days to gather signatures. They had until February 5, 2015, to gather approximately 3,000 signatures to place the recall on a ballot. While supporters expressed interest in gathering the signatures sooner to place the recall on the general election ballot, it did not appear on the November 4, 2014, ballot.[2] Ultimately, petitioners did not submit any signatures by the deadline.[1]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Ray + Rodriguez + Newark + Unified + School + District + recall"
See also
External links
Additional reading
- Contra Costa Times, "Newark school board recall fizzles," February 27, 2015
- Contra Costa Times, "Newark schools: Superintendent returns, district embarks on 'healing divisions'," accessed October 16, 2014
- Inside Bay Area, "Marken's return as Newark superintendent a fresh start," September 29, 2014
- Alameda County Registrar of Voters, "Guide to Recall," accessed September 9, 2014
- San Jose Mercury News, "Newark schools: Recall election looms over superintendent's resignation," August 30, 2014
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Margaret Koenig, "Email correspondence with Lolita Francisco, Alameda County Registrar of Voter's office," February 9, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 San Jose Mercury News, "Newark schools: Recall election looms over superintendent's resignation," August 30, 2014
- ↑ Contra Costa Times, "Newark ex-schools chief says he'll return if board membership changes," September 5, 2014
- ↑ Inside Bay Area, "Marken's return as Newark superintendent a fresh start," September 29, 2014
