Time to take ‘ recall Newsom’ effort seriously
Orrin Heatlie, a retired Yolo County Sheriff’s Department sergeant.
“If we could get another million dollars in donations we could probably get this done,” fellow recall leader Mike Netter said.
And now they have more time to do it.
Thanks to a recent court ruling that extended the signaturegathering deadline for this recall by four months, the organizers now have until March 17 to collect the 1,495,709 valid voter signatures needed to put it on the ballot.
Organizers say they’ve collected about 800,000 signatures, more than half of those needed. Political consultants who work on state initiative campaigns, however, say they’ll likely need an extra 500,000 valid signatures to ensure that the recall qualifies for the ballot.
And most agree that even with recall volunteers in every county, the only sure way to get to 2 million would be to hire paid signature gatherers to collect them outside of big box stores, farmers’ markets and the like — they get paid for every voter they sign up.
“Signaturegathering is difficult, and with COVID19 and stayathome orders, we’d probably be looking at upwards of $ 5 to $ 6 or so per signature. That’s a lot of money,” Maviglio said.
Republican Bill Whalen, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, agreed.
“They need an outsider to write a big check the way that ( former and future U. S. Rep.) Darrell Issa funded the ( Gov.)
Gray Davis recall in 2003,” Whalen said.
On the other hand, given Newsom’s national profile, a lot of money could be raised through small internet donations.
“There is a significant uptick in donations whenever Fox News broadcasts about us on the national stage,” Heatlie said.
But getting the signatures is only part of the fight.
“Even it if qualified, it would be another thing altogether for the recall to succeed,” Maviglio said.
True, but that was also the feeling in the months leading up to the 2003 recall of Davis, when to the shock of just about everyone, one of the most unlikely candidates ever — Arnold Schwarzenegger — entered and won the race.
“The 2003 recall of Davis was business,” Whalen said. “It was about rolling blackouts and raising the vehicle license fee. With Newsom it’s more personal, and incidents like the French Laundry reinforce the image of Newsom and his wife as Marin County royalty. And there could be an issue about his kids going to private school while ( other) kids are stuck learning from home.”
The date of any recall election would depend on a number of factors, including when the required number of valid signatures was submitted and when the cost of the recall election is reviewed by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.
Whatever the outcome, Newsom is facing a potentially potent mix of anger, resentment and dissatisfaction just as he enters what might be the toughest months of his term.
Those close to Newsom say his fate hinges on three key tasks: getting the coronavirus vaccine distributed, reopening schools, and getting small businesses and workers back on their feet.
San Francisco Chronicle columnist Phil Matier appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KGOTV morning and evening news and can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7: 50 a. m. and 5: 50 p. m. Got a tip? Call 4157778815, or email pmatier@ sfchronicle. com. Twitter: @ philmatier