On Monday, April 26, 2021, the Town of Windsor received a Notice of Intention for the proposed recall of At-large Mayor Dominic Foppoli.
Upon receipt, the Town Clerk’s office immediately began the review of the Notice of Intention and requested the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters to review the signatures required and verify that they are valid. Upon examination of the Notice of Intention, the Clerk’s Office determined that it did not include the provisions of Elections Code section 11023, and did not address the Notice to the Officer sought to be recalled, using his name and title, and therefore did not comply with the requirements of Elections Code section 11020.
Elections Code section 11020 provides for the Form of the Notice of Intention, and requires that it “shall contain all of the following: a) the name and title of the officer sought to be recalled; b) a statement, not to exceed 200 words in length, of the reasons for the proposed recall; c) the printed name, signature, and residence address, including street and number, city and ZIP code of each of the proponents of the recall…..; and d) the provisions of section 11023.” As noted on page 14 of the California Secretary of State’s “Procedures for Recalling State and Local Officials”: d) The text of Elections Code section 11023, which describes how the officer sought to be recalled may file an answer. [See Exhibit A] (Elections Code §§ 11020, 11041 (a)(2))”. As such, the proposed recall effort against At-large Mayor Dominic Foppoli cannot advance as submitted.
“We recognize that this will be disappointing news to the sponsors of the recall effort, but the requirements of the Elections Code are very specific and have to be met in order for the Notice to be accepted.” said Maria De La O, Town Clerk for the Town of Windsor.
Should the Committee wish to continue the recall efforts against At-large Mayor Dominic Foppoli, they are required to begin the process anew, as if it had never begun.
