Anarchy grips California town as council overrules its own recall, locals threaten members

A bitter political fight in a small Central California city spiraled into chaos last week after three elected officials who were ousted in a recall election voted to keep their seats anyway — sparking threats and intimidation at a packed council meeting.

The turmoil erupted Thursday in Avenal, a city of roughly 13,000 residents in Kings County about 60 miles southwest of Fresno, where supporters and opponents of a controversial recall packed City Hall as the council weighed whether to recognize the results of a special election held April 28.

Instead of certifying their own removals, Mayor Alvaro Preciado and councilmembers Leticia Gamez and Pablo Hernandez — three of four officials voters sought to remove — voted to reject the recall results and remain in office, The Sacramento Bee reported.

The fourth recalled councilmember, David Reynosa, was absent.

City leaders argue the recall was conducted improperly and maintain municipal elections can only be administered by authorized city officials.

But critics point to warnings from the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, which last week ordered the city to stop spending public money because, in the county’s view, only one councilmember is lawfully serving following the recall.

The explosive meeting quickly descended into personal attacks.

In one video that circulated online, resident Keith Jackson directed comments at Deputy City Clerk Karla Curiel, saying: “Mrs. Curiel, we want to continue this meeting, go ahead, because they don’t make your mom’s green enchiladas in jail. … Maybe you can help them give them the recipe.”

“That was very inappropriate,” Gamez responded from the dais. The remark drew criticism because the councilmembers and city staff present at the meeting are Latino.

Another resident, Thomas Chastine, appeared to mock a councilmember’s English proficiency during public comment.

“I know my constitutional rights, and you can’t tell me anything, ’cause you are not the mayor. Do you understand that part? Or you need somebody to translate for you into Spanish, so you understand,” Chastine asked.

After making a separate remark about burritos in jail, he added: “Don’t worry, somebody will teach you. Because you guys need to learn the hard way.”

The comments ignited fierce debate online, with some residents condemning them as racist and disrespectful while others defended them as protected speech.

On Saturday, the city issued a statement denouncing “threats of violence, intimidations, racist remarks and disparaging comments directed at public officials, city staff or members of the community.”

Officials also blasted what they called an “increasing hostile rhetoric” emanating from a private Facebook group focused on the recall fight, accusing participants of engaging in “personal attacks, defamatory accusations, hateful commentary and targeted harassment.”

“When racist slurs, threats, and harassment are tolerated, it becomes clear this recall was built on hate, not accountability,” City Manager Antony V. López wrote on social media. “This is why I continue standing up for Avenal.”

The June 11 meeting took place just a week after recall organizers filed an injunction against the recalled officials and served city leaders with civil restraining orders, escalating an already bitter dispute over who legally controls the city government.

Preciado acknowledged officials had received threats in the lead-up to the meeting but said city leaders chose not to postpone it. Four police officers were assigned to provide security.

With neither side backing down, the battle over Avenal’s recall appears headed for the courts — leaving the small farming community mired in political uncertainty and deepening divisions.

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