Jan 23, 2008 7:51 pm US/Pacific
Tensions Grow Ahead Of Pinole Recall Election
PINOLE (CBS 5) ―
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The catalyst for the Pinole recall is the Pear Street Bistro. The restaurant's owner has not repaid $400,000 in loans issued by the city.
CBS 5
Residents in this East Bay community are polarized by an 8-month recall campaign that will finally be decided in the February 5th election. Bad blood is growing, with allegations of sign stealing and concerned citizens patrolling the streets.
Three city council members were targeted by the recall effort. Maria Alegria and Stephen Tilton are fighting for their jobs in the February election, a third councilmember has already resigned.
"We believe they have misused city funds, they illegally and incorrectly discharged the City Manager," said Jeff Rubin, a spokesperson for the recall.
The three council members have denied the charges. Recall supporters said they targeted council members who they felt were too cozy with a downtown restaurant owner who has not repaid the city for more than $400,000 in loans. Both sides swap allegations of political intimidation and dirty tactics.
"We put the signs up, they take them down," Rubin said.
The catalyst for this recall is the Pear Street Bistro. Early Wednesday morning, it was the focal point of a campaign sign stealing sting.
"We had binoculars, cameras, radios," said Dave Vida, a recall supporter. "And we just sat and waited."
At 12:10 a.m., members of the recall committee spotted a suspected thief. Pinole Police arrested a 24-year-old Bistro employee on charges of petty theft.
"I saw him come out, waited for him to take the signs which he promptly grabbed and headed back," Vida said.
Tilton, a lieutenant in the San Francisco's Sheriff's Department told CBS 5 "Anything regarding stealing signs is totally unacceptable. I don't condone anything like that." He also said the recall is petty and a case of revenge politics.
Recall supporters said the stakeouts will continue up to the February 5th election.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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