By Staff,  City News Service

Sunday, October 31, 2010

http://www.swrnn.com/southwest-riverside/2010-10-31/news/san-jacinto-voters-to-decide-tuesday-whether-to-recall-four-council-members

Mayor Dale Stubblefield, along with council members James Ayers, John Mansperger and James Potts, are facing a recall drive.

Four of five San Jacinto City Council members could be booted from office if a majority of voters approve a recall initiative inspired by criminal charges filed against the quartet over a campaign money-laundering scandal.

Mayor Dale Stubblefield, along with council members James Ayers, John Mansperger and James Potts, are facing a recall drive. Stubblefield’s and Mansperger’s terms end in January, but neither is seeking reelection.

Last November, all four men and five associates — including Ayers’ wife, Nancy — were named in a 155-count indictment alleging bribery, campaign money-laundering and tax fraud.

In September, six additional people were implicated in the case and charged with several counts of making campaign contributions under a false name, conspiracy and perjury.

City Councilman Steve Di Memmo, who was not indicted, called on his colleagues last year to resign.

Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco said he had “never seen anything like” the scheme, which allegedly involved hundreds of thousands of dollars being illegally funneled into James Ayers’ failed 2006 bid to win the GOP nomination for the 65th Assembly District.

A trial date is expected to be set next year.

In an introduction to their recall initiative, proponents wrote that Ayers, Mansperger, Potts and Stubblefield are “unfit” representatives because of their “irresponsible actions in office.”

“San Jacinto deserves a new city council majority that will reflect the spirit and integrity of this community and who will place the interests of citizens of this community above all else,” the recall backers stated.

Ayers pointed to the city’s “improved financial position,” infrastructure and economic future as evidence of his hard work and appealed to residents to vote no on the recall.

He called the campaign being waged against him a “false, misleading and rumor-filled sham.”

Mansperger hailed the council’s work and asked voters to judge him on his record of the last few years and not the recall allegations.

Stubblefield reminded voters that a person is “innocent until proven guilty,” while Potts highlighted his record of service and suggested the recall was rooted entirely in “politics.”

“Send a message. Say no to this recall,” he urged in campaign literature.

Two candidates are competing for Ayers’ seat if a recall is approved — Michael Fred Allen, a teacher, and previous council candidate, and Mark Bartel, a dairy farmer.

If Potts is recalled, one of two candidates will take his place — Andrew Kotyuk, chairman of the Diamond Valley Arts Council, or James D. Pangrazzi, a civic activist.

There are a dozen candidates — of whom the two top vote-getters win — vying to fill Mansperger’s and Stubblefield’s seats, whether the men are recalled or leave office as planned in January.