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Group launches recall effort to oust Grover Beach mayor, 2 councilmen, video

January 9, 2024

Recall notice served on Grover Beach Mayor Karen Bright and councilmen Daniel Rushing and Zachary Zimmerman

By KAREN VELIE

A citizens group launched a recall effort to oust Grover Beach Mayor Karen Bright and councilmen Daniel Rushing and Zachary Zimmerman through a recall election on Monday.

During public comment at Monday’s Grover Beach Council meeting, Lesley Marr said she wanted to provide each council member a copy of a proposed initiative to repeal the resolution raising water rates. After handing each of the council members a stack of papers, Marr told Bright, Rushing and Zimmerman she had also served them with notice of intent to recall.

The group, Grover H2O, plans to file a notice of intent to recall with the Grover Beach Clerk’s Office on Tuesday.

Bright, Rushing and Zimmerman’s support of a resolution that will more than double water rates in order to help pay for Central Coast Blue, a proposed recycled water project, prompted the recall effort.

After approximately 34% of rate payers submitted protests, the Grover Beach City Council voted 3-2 to raise water and sewer rates by 112% over four years, with council members Robert Robert and Clint Weirick dissenting.

Proponents of the recall argue Bright, Rushing and Zimmerman are out of touch with their constituents, don’t listen and are making the community unaffordable.

The committee will need to gather approximately 2,000 signatures for both Bright and Zimmerman and 500 for Rushing, who was appointed after the city voted to create council member districts.

If successful, the recall for Bright, Rushing and Zimmerman could be on a special ballot later this year.

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It’s a mess for sure. It’s understandable that the residents are up in arms over this increase. I would be too. It begs the question as to where is the staff? Someone should have seen this coming and proposed incremental increases over a longer horizon. Part of the problem with having 2 square mile city with an $18 million budget is affording the depth and numbers of talent needed to avoid problems like this.


5

Not sure how the people were asked to protest or approve the rate hikes but you put a letter in their bill saying the rates will increase to this and if you agree mark yes if not mark no and no mark is considered a yes you would be done with it as you gave everyone a chance.


1

34% protested – so 2/3 or a super majority are apparently fine with it – THAT is democracy in action. They are representing the majority. Now stop your tantrum and quit wasting monies needed elsewhere. Get better candidates.


-28

If the council is so sure the residents want this why not have a real peoples vote?, and dont confuse the wording.


19

Democracy is voting for things, not how many are against it. Automatically assuming a yes for the 66% non respondents of a time quenched protest? Yeah right


13

Democracy in Action!


23

What a tremendous waste of time


-45

I love it, where do I sign?


41

Good for them. They have that right.


44