Proponents of a recall effort against Fullerton Mayor Fred Jung have reportedly received unexpected home visits from a man who identified himself as “Ted” who asked them to reconsider their support shortly after legal paperwork was filed.
This comes after a notice of intention to recall was filed against Jung and District 4 councilmember Jamie Valencia. Proponents of Jung’s recall cite poor leadership, concerns with etiquette and mismanagement of city resources as the reasons for the notice.
A political recall is the process by which citizens can vote to remove an elected official from office before their term is over. A notice of intention, the first step in the recall process, is a formal document sent to the incumbent in question, informing them of the recall efforts and the reasons for them.
Video from a doorbell camera shows Ted, who says he is helping Jung, speaking to residents regarding their support of the notice. He states that his goal is to “protect the Korean community” and support those who have aided it.
According to recall organizers, all five houses Ted visited were owned by individuals with traditionally Korean surnames.
In an interview with the Daily Titan, Jung, who represents District 1, said that the individual was a volunteer who has been “very supportive” of Jung’s role on city council and as mayor, and that the purpose of this outreach was to ensure that Korean citizens, who Jung states comprise a significant portion of his district, understood what they were signing.
“I wanted to make sure that the Koreans who had signed this particular petition had done so with the full knowledge and capacity in language,” Jung said.
During public comment at last Tuesday’s city council meeting, some citizens criticized the outreach efforts, citing concerns over the democratic process. Representatives from multiple local Korean American organizations, including the Korean American Chamber of Commerce and the Korean American Federation of Orange County, spoke in opposition to Jung’s recall.
Jung also stated in an email to the Daily Titan that the Fullerton Police Department, Fullerton Fire Department and organized labor oppose the recall of Mayor Jung and Councilmember Valencia.
“I encourage the District 1 voters to understand that I am here to serve not only them, and be a representative of their concerns and their needs, but also all of Fullerton,” Jung said. “And I will continue to serve until otherwise.”
To see official guidelines on local recall procedures or verify filing timelines for municipal offices, voters can consult the webpages of the California Secretary of State Recalls Overview, or review local petition rules through the Orange County registrar of voter’s recall process information.