CAMPBELL RECALL IS UNNECESSARY DISTRACTION

Two weeks ago, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Editorial Board came out strongly against the effort to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose organizers appear to have more than half of the 1,495,709 signatures needed to force a statewide vote on Newsom’s ouster. We said recalls “should be reserved for elected officials who are corrupt or extremely incompetent” and argued that while the governor had made mistakes, a recall simply wasn’t justified.

Now a push to recall City Council President Jennifer Campbell is gaining attention locally. Some proponents are angry that Campbell, who represents the coastal District 2, proposed a compromise on short-term vacation rentals that would scale them back but allow some to continue. Some are disgruntled that she became council president over more progressive council colleague and fellow

Democrat Monica Montgomery Steppe, a prominent supporter of police reform, in a 5-4 vote. Some are predicting that Campbell will become a tool of labor and business interests as council leader.

The notion of recalling her because critics think she is unfit is undemocratic. They should let her serve as council president before presuming she is a poor leader, and instead of pursuing a recall that is an unwarranted distraction, Campbell critics should focus on opposing her rentals compromise and lobbying for other items on their agenda. Given the time it takes to collect signatures, a recall election likely wouldn’t happen until late 2021 when her re-election campaign would be in full swing. If she disappoints, vote her out in the 2022 election.