AVENAL, Calif. (FOX26) — Kings County District 2 Supervisor Richard Valle, whose district includes the city of Avenal, shared his frustration Wednesday over the lack of help from State Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office to help remove four city councilmembers who were recalled by voters in April.

“I believe that if these were MAGA republicans who were refusing to leave office, someone in California would have done something about that,” Valle said Wednesday morning, during a live interview on Great Day. “We were hoping he would take some action.”

Kings Co Sup voices frustration on recalled Avenal council members;”… if these were MAGA…” (FOX26)

The four council members— Mayor Alvaro Preciado and Councilmembers Leticia Gamez, Pablo Hernandez and David Reynosa —have refused to step down, questioning the legality of the recall itself.

Bonta’s office told Fox26 members of the public and Kings County Counsel can file a quo warranto lawsuit, the legal process to challenge a person’s right or eligibility to hold a public office.

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Bonta’s office approved the application June 17th.

Even so, the four recalled council members refuse to step down.

“I’ve never seen a city so deflated in my time of being around in public service. The people feel like nobody’s coming to help,” Valle said.

Valle says a similar situation played out in late 2024, after three members of the Orosi Public Utilities District refused to vacate their seats after being voted out.

[RELATED] Avenal City Council members served and due in court Monday in recall dispute

Bonta’s office intervened by mid-January 2025.

“The same lawyer in the Orosi case serves as lawyer for Avenal’s city council,” Valle said. “Same behavior and action.”

Valle insists the state attorney general has the ability to remove the recalled council members, so two other council members could be appointed to have a quorum to conduct city business.

“We’re getting ready to celebrate America’s 250th and here we have people being recalled, with 80 percent of the votes and they’re allowed to sit there like nothing happened,” Valle said. “Why is it being allowed to take place here in the state of California, in the county of Kings, in the city of Avenal? It’s embarrassing.”