By Arnold Adler
Contributing Writer
DOWNEY — Local voters recalled City Councilwoman Catherine Alvarez from office Jan. 31.
Preliminary results from the Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters indicate that more than 90% of those casting ballots supported the recall of Alvarez.
Final results are expected Feb. 10, city officials said.
The recall was petitioned by residents in District 3 in the city’s northwest corner. The district has 17,240 registered voters. Of that total, only 3,225 or 18.71% cast ballots in the recall election, according to county figures.
Elected in November 2020, Alvarez was served recall papers in July 2022, but final petitions handed in to the county fell just short of the number needed to place the item on the ballot.
Recall supporters in the summer effort alleged Alvarez had not followed election rules and did not mention an alleged misdemeanor citation several years ago.
In September, they presented their second petition to the City Clerk’s office which was sent to county for signature verification.
Alvarez has declined repeated requests for comment on the recall issue.
A housing rights advocate, Alvarez worked with and is a member of the Downey Tenants Union and other activist groups
Downey City Clerk Alicia M. Duarte noted that under provisions in the City Charter, the City Council may not appoint someone to replace Alvarez, meaning the council will have to go with only four members until a special election to replace Alvarez is held Nov. 7.
That differs from the case of Councilwoman Blanca Pacheco, who resigned her council seat in December after being elected to the state Assembly last November. Timothy Horn has been appointed to replace Pacheco in District 1 in the southeast corner of the city.
Voters also will decide Nov. 7 who will serve the last year of Pacheco’s term.
