State weighs costs of recall

Analysis finds special election for Newman’s removal would be roughly $2.67 million.

SACRAMENTO — State finance officials said Monday that it would cost about $2.67 million for a special election on the recall of state Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), but only $931,000 to put his potential recall on the regular June primary ballot, which will also feature races for governor and congressional seats.

The savings — and the time it took to complete the financial assessment — could give ammunition to Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown to put the recall measure on the primary ballot, possibly improving Newman’s chance of staying in office.

The higher turnout expected in the primary might benefit Newman as he tries to fend off the Republican recall drive.

The financial analysis was a new requirement of a law approved this year by the Democrat-controlled Legislature that has slowed the Newman recall. Brown and legislators now have 30 days to review the election cost report.

The deadline for calling a special election was last week, 180 days before the June 5 primary, although state officials have been known to extend such deadlines. In this case, that is unlikely.

Carl Demaio, a former San Diego City councilman who is leading the Republican-funded recall, denounced the lengthy new process Monday, but said it will not save Newman’s political career.

“This is about a shameful tactic by Sacramento politicians to keep politicians who break public trust and engage in misconduct in office for as long as possible,” he said.

Republicans launched the recall after Newman voted with the majority of legislators to raise gas taxes and vehicle fees to raise more than $5.2 billion a year for road repairs and mass transit. They have turned in enough signatures to put the recall measure on a ballot.

Newman won election last year by a close margin, and Republicans see him as vulnerable to recall, which would deprive Democrats of the two-thirds majority they enjoy in the Senate.

The costs of a recall will be borne by Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties, which all have a share of Newman’s Senate district.

Representatives of Brown and Newman were not immediately available for comment Monday.