In April, the city of Poway filed a lawsuit<\/a> against Blain for the destruction of public records\u2014the first time Poway has ever sued a sitting elected official.\u00a0<\/p>\n And last week, Blain became the first sitting elected official in Poway\u2019s history to face criminal charges. Prosecutors have charged him with four felony charges and a misdemeanor.\u00a0<\/p>\n In just a few days, he will face a recall vote<\/a> by his own constituents in Poway\u2019s District 2, exactly one year since he was first elected to the City Council.\u00a0<\/p>\n Many are expecting the recall vote, which needs a simple majority to pass, to be successful, removing Blain from office. If the recall vote fails, Blain\u2019s criminal charges won\u2019t automatically remove him from office, but many residents and members of the City Council will likely continue to urge him to resign. If he\u2019s convicted, he could face jail or prison time.\u00a0<\/p>\n So, how did Blain go from running a campaign based on \u201chonesty, integrity and transparency\u201d and promising \u201cno backroom politics\u201d to facing a criminal indictment, a recall vote and a tarnished reputation?\u00a0<\/p>\n It started with emails.\u00a0<\/p>\n Emails and Political Aspirations\u00a0<\/p>\n Blain was dialed in to Poway politics long before he was elected to the City Council.\u00a0<\/p>\n A military officer and physician, Blain had never held public office before, but he wanted to be involved in Poway\u2019s government since at least February of 2023, when he had his sights set on a City Council seat, emails obtained by Voice of San Diego show.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIf I get elected, I\u2019m going to strive to be as apolitical as possible & just do good for Poway residents \/ voters \u2013 current Council & Vaus EXTREMELY political. Not sure if I\u2019m too idealistic as I\u2019m very new at this,\u201d Blain wrote in an email<\/a> to former Poway Councilmember Barry Leonard in February 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n Blain also sent emails to Poway\u2019s mayor, councilmembers and city staff about a range of topics from graffiti removal to water rates and his plans to introduce a ballot measure that would create term limits for elected officials.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n As time went on, the emails grew more frequent, harsh and sometimes threatening.\u00a0<\/p>\n For example, in March 2023, Blain emailed the mayor and councilmembers asking that the city create an information center for people who visit Poway. Leonard responded that visitors could find visitor information on the city\u2019s website. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cGood reply Barry \u2014 that [sic] like saying \u2018look it up yourself\u2019 I will be taking your seat on Council Barry and actually helping people,\u201d Blain responded<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Around August 2023, Poway City Manager Chris Hazeltine asked Blain to start sending his emails only to him instead of the mayor, councilmembers and city staff. Blain initially agreed, but by September, he became frustrated with Hazeltine\u2019s responses to his questions.\u00a0<\/p>\n Then, in October, Blain threatened to have Hazeltine fired.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI really want to see you fired, Chris \/ you are unhelpful to residents and a liability for entire City of Poway. We need new helpful City Manager with a good attitude who wants to be friendly and help citizens\/ voters,\u201d Blain wrote<\/a> on Oct. 11.\u00a0<\/p>\n The next day, he sent Hazeltine another email<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Hazeltine, you have received your last communication from me until I am elected, then I will call for a vote at the first meeting to have you replaced with new City Manager. Best regards.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2024, records show Blain\u2019s emails becoming increasingly combative.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n For example, around August, city staff took down some of Blain\u2019s campaign signs because they were in public areas owned by the city, like sidewalks.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n In multiple email exchanges, Blain asked City Attorney Alan Fenstermacher why his signs were taken down. Fenstermacher\u202fexplained<\/a>\u202fthe city\u2019s code, but Blain wasn\u2019t satisfied.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Fenstermacher, you appears [sic] to be political in your dealing with me, which is both unethical and questionably legal. You really have no business being the Poway city attorney with your obvious political leanings,\u201d Blain\u202fwrote<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n After a few more emails back and forth, Blain again\u202ftold<\/a>\u202fFenstermacher that he should resign.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n The next day, on Aug. 31, Blain sent an email to the entire City Council, Fenstermacher and Hazeltine, threatening to file a lawsuit against the city for taking down his campaign signs and demanding Fenstermacher\u2019s and Hazeltine\u2019s resignations. Otherwise, he wrote<\/a>, he would talk to the media.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n A few days later, Blain sent an\u202femail<\/a>\u202fto Fenstermacher saying he was writing a letter to the State Bar requesting that Fenstermacher be disbarred, meaning he would lose his law license.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI will be publicly requesting your resignation in Nov. 2024 and Nov. 2026 after I am elected to Council and later as mayor \u2013 start looking for another job \u2013 you are unprofessional and unethical,\u201d\u202fwrote<\/a>\u202fBlain in the email.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n On Oct. 10, a month before the election, Blain wrote a seemingly unprovoked email to then-Councilmember Brian Pepin with the subject line \u201crequest.\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHi, Brian, I actually like you, unlike [Councilmember] De Hoff\u2019s lies \/ \u2018anonymous\u2019 stupid political stories. Work with me on Council and I will support you. If you do anything I hear about that is lying or mean to me, I will work tirelessly to get you OFF Council,\u201d Blain\u202fwrote<\/a>. \u201cYou and I are good for now unless I see anything you do underhanded. And I have ways of finding out what you are doing behind the scenes. I have heard rumors, but I will give you this once [sic] chance to behave.\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n After winning the election on Nov. 5, 2024, Blain sent multiple emails per week to Fenstermacher and Hazeltine demanding they resign.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe will force your resignation in 23 months when we have 3 votes on Council (hopefully sooner),\u201d Blain\u202fwrote<\/a>\u202fin an email to Hazeltine on Nov. 26.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n He also sent emails to multiple other officials demanding their resignations, including Mayor Steve Vaus, Councilmember Peter De Hoff and members of the city\u2019s Budget Review Committee.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n From Threatening to Illegal\u00a0<\/p>\n At a January City Council meeting to fill a vacant<\/a> seat, Blain\u2019s yearslong pattern of sending threatening emails came to light.\u00a0<\/p>\n Fenstermacher publicly accused Blain of threats, harassment and bullying directed at him, other staff members and residents.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI am no longer intimidated by you Councilmember Blain,\u201d Fenstermacher said during the meeting. \u201cI don\u2019t give a flying fuck if you fire me. I will not take this lying down anymore. You are a bully, you\u2019ve been harassing me for months, and I\u2019ve tried to be professional. This is enough.\u201d\u202f\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Fenstermacher revealed that Blain had not only sent him and other staff members numerous threatening emails, but Blain had also emailed city staff asking them to call the police on two different residents who criticized Blain. In one email, Blain\u202fwrote<\/a>\u202fthat he filed a police report against a resident who criticized him.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761829932_187_vito-distefano-4-15-25-35-1024x684.jpg\")
Photo of the Poway Councilmember Tony Blain at the Robert C. Emery City Council Chambers building in Poway on April 15, 2025. \/ Vito di Stefano for Voice of San Diego<\/p>\n![\"Poway](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/vito-distefano-4-15-25-9-1024x684.jpg\")
Poway Mayor Steve Vaus (right) with Poway City Manager Chris Hazeltine (left) before the Poway City Council meeting at the Robert C. Emery City Council Chambers building in Poway on April 15, 2025. \/ Vito di Stefano for Voice of San Diego<\/p>\n