Fujita, who retired last year and was re-hired by the city this year on a part-time basis without benefits, is the first Japanese-American to ever run for the council in Pinole. She will be elected if Tilton is recalled, as she is the only candidate running. See text of Fujita’s announcement speech to the Pinole City Council, delivered on November 20.

Two candidates are running for Alegria’s seat; one will be elected should she be recalled. They are former Councilman Roy Swearingen, who served from 1987 to 1990, and machine shop owner Steve Denlis. Denlis has endorsed the recall but is not a CCOP member.

In a separate special election for former Councilman David Cole’s seat, the candidates are Pinole Planning Commissioner Debbie Long and former Pinole Camber of Commerce Executive Director Ivette Ricco. Cole resigned his seat in August. Ricco has a long association with Alegria and Pear Street Bistro owner/former Chamber of Commerce President Gary Wong, whose failure to make monthly payments on nearly half a million dollars on his Pinole Redevelopment Agency loans for more than two years was a catalyst for the recall. All three elections will be on Tuesday, February 5, the day of the California Presidential Primary.

Meanwhile, a coalition of County Democratic and Labor interests flexed its muscle recently in announcing its not unexpected outside support of Alegria and Tilton and to quash the local, citizen-driven recall. Observers say this decision was “railroaded,” perhaps in a desperate attempt to stave off potential damage to Alegria, one of the County Dems’ rising stars. “I feel that there was insufficient notice of this resolution,” said Rich Verrilli, who also is editor of the Contra Costa County Democratic Party central committee’s newsletter, Democratic Dispatch.”

Alegria has one year remaining on her four-year term. Tilton, who was elected to his first term only last November, has three years remaining on his. The third subject of the recall, former Councilman David Cole, resigned his council seat in August and joined the U.S. Army. A special election to fill the remaining three years of his term will also be held February 5, 2008. The filing period for candidates for the two recall elections - they will be held separately on the same date - and the special election begins October 15 and ends November 9.

The next step is for the county clerk’s office is to certify the signatures, meaning there are a minimum of 2,225 valid signatures (25% of Pinole’s registered voters). If that happens, a recall election will be held later this year or in January 2008. The Concerned Citizens of Pinole, the grass-roots recall committee, collected 2,521 signatures to recall Mayor Alegria and 2,475 signatures to recall Councilman Tilton. The committee also collected 2,490 signatures to recall Councilman David Cole, who joined the U.S. Army and resigned from the council. Cole’s petitions were not filed. To replace Cole, the city council will either appoint someone to serve the remainder of his term, through 2010, or have a special election to fill the seat. “We’re confident that we have more than enough valid signatures to have a recall election,” said recall spokesman Jeff Rubin.

“We’re looking forward to having a series of town meetings with Mayor Alegria, Councilman Tilton, and those citizens who decide to run against them, so the people can get answers to the many questions concerning the Pear Street Bistro scandal and the firing of a much-respected city manager, Belinda Espinosa.

“The mayor has refused to address any of these questions, preferring to say that the recall is simply ‘personal politics’ and a ‘personal vendetta’ against her. Those are the kind of words politicians use when they have nothing to say, when they don’t want to tell people what’s really going on, or when they are hiding the truth.

“We collected more than 2,500 signatures from people who are not fooled by that kind of talk.

“We’re really looking forward to asking both council members lots of questions in a public forum, in a venue where they can’t hide behind the council podium and refuse to answer.”