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Recall effort targets McFarland mayor, 2 councilmen

MCFARLAND— Small town politics, controversy and the recall of a mayor.
No, this isn’t Arvin — this time, it’s McFarland, a town of 9,873 in northern Kern County, just 26 miles from Bakersfield.

A group of 20 McFarland residents — led by Julie Rodarte— have joined forces to collect signatures asking for the recall of Mayor Rafael Melendez.

The signatures were turned in March 10 and surpassed the minimum requirement of 620.

Among the recall proponents’ complaints about Melendez is the claim that the mayor used city money to pay for his wife’s travel expenses.

“Money which has been paid back,” Melendez said.
According to Melendez, it was understood he would pay the money back to the city, but residents are asking why it took the mayor so long to reimburse the funds.

City records show that Melendez borrowed $432.90 in May 2004 for a plane trip for his wife to Washington D.C.; $1252.65 for her plane trip to South Korea on July 2005; and $600 for her lodging in South Korea, all of which was paid back to the city in December 2005.

“He did pay back the money, but he only paid it back after being questioned about it,” Rodarte said.

The mayor is not the only target of this recall.

Councilmen Vidal Santillano and Manuel Cantu Jr. have also been added to the effort.

“We were concerned with some of the issues that came up at the city council and the way they were voted on,” Rodarte said. “We didn’t feel the mayor and city council were voting in the best interests of the city.”

In addition to the travel expense controversy, some of the other issues and allegations that Rodarte addressed and had printed on flyers include:

• The mayor and councilmen approving a garbage contract that recall supporters say will cost the city more than if it had used a local company.

• The mayor’s failure to lead the council to approve a 2005-2006 budget to this day.

• Approval of a more expensive wastewater treatment facility.

• An increase of lawsuits and legal costs to the city.

• An approval of an expensive lease for the McFarland Community Center.

So how do the mayor and the city councilmen view these accusations?

“They have a right to voice their opinion,” Melendez said. “I have already answered the residents’ questions and have clarified all of these accusations — maybe this isn’t about truth.”

On the subject of costs of services, that’s all subjective, according to Cantu.

“We awarded the garbage contract to the best qualified bidder,” he said. “We saw that, per container, the cost with the contractor in Visalia was less expensive than the price per container of the local company.”

As for the travel expenses for the mayor’s wife, Cantu said the mayor had agreed to reimburse the city, and that, originally, city money was used because buying the tickets together gave them a discount.

The recall effort is being fueled by “sour grapes,” specifically by Ben Garza, Rodarte’s father, Cantu said.

“Ben Garza was a former councilman and he wanted the lease on the McFarland Community Center, but he never put in a bid,” Cantu said.
Rodarte disagreed.

“My father doesn’t want the lease, that was not the argument,” she said. “The question is why draw up a contract, which would cost the city more money?”

Cantu does understand what can happen, if enough signatures are collected and a recall election is indeed held.

“We are doing our best. I really don’t see where we have done anything that would warrant their accusations,” Cantu said. “In the end, it will be what the people choose.”

According to Blanca Reyes-Garza, McFarland city clerk, the signatures have been received and turned over to the county to be certified within a period of 30 days.

Once the signatures are certified, the city has 88-125 days to set a recall election, she said.

In the meantime, Melendez requested that the people of McFarland keep an open mind.

“Every story has two sides,” he said. “All I can ask is that the residents learn the other side before making a decision that will affect the city for a long time.”

No matter the outcome, McFarland residents hope the city benefits in the end.

“Honestly, I feel like everyone else, including the mayor, has the right to take his wife wherever he goes as long as he pays for it,” said Melva Rosson, McFarland resident. “If we do end up keeping the three people that are up for recall, then I would hope this experience will wake them up and make them realize that city politics can’t be about personal agendas and that it has to be about doing what is best for the taxpayers’ needs.”