Recall group says it has gathered enough signatures

Dan Kulin

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004 | 9:44 a.m.

More than the required number of signatures have been collected to force a recall election of Boulder City Mayor Bob Ferraro and City Councilman Mike Pacini, a recall volunteer said Tuesday.

However, volunteer Vaughn Reuther said the petitions might not be turned over to the city for two or three weeks in order to collect more signatures, which would offset any that might be disqualified if, for example, some of the signees were not registered city voters.

If the recall petitions are successful, Ferraro and Pacini would have to face a special election. Former City Councilman Bill Smith has said he would run for mayor, and retired businessman Arn McLean has said he would run for Pacini's seat. Ferraro beat Smith in the June general election by 18 votes.

Reuther said Tuesday that there are 1,403 signatures on petitions to recall Ferraro and 1,352 signatures on petitions to put Smith on the ballot against him. Only 1,248 signatures are needed.

Meanwhile, there are 1,257 signatures on petitions to recall Pacini and 1,164 signatures to put McLean on the ballot against him. Recall supporters need 992 signatures.

Recall supporters have until early April to turn over their petitions.

If the recall supporters are successful, a special election would be held within 50 days of the petition signatures being certified and reviewed by the Secretary of State's office.

Ferraro said he's not surprised the recall supporters were able to get so many signatures on the petitions. But the mayor said he's concerned a recall election would divide the city.

Recall supporters have said the financial problems at the city-owned Boulder Creek Golf Club are the primary reason they want to replace Ferraro and Pacini. They say that either the mayor and Pacini, who both supported the golf course, knew or should have known the course was losing money long before it was made public.