Enough signatures gathered for fire district recall vote

Two board members with the Russian River Fire Protection District will face a recall election, Sonoma County Registrar of Voters officials said Monday.

Proponents of ousting Kevin O'Shea and Linda Payne, who have both served on the board since 2000, gathered enough valid signatures to hold the election, 870 to recall O'Shea and 853 for Payne, registrar officials said. They needed at least 813 each.

The recall bid against O'Shea, a former fire chief, and Payne began amid community outrage over the firing of the chief the district shares with the Forestville Fire Protection District.

Even though Chief Max Ming has since been reinstated to the post, the recall bid needs to move forward, said Margaret Benelli, a lifelong Guerneville resident and part of a core group that called for the recall.

"The current board has lost all credibility," said Benelli, who was a board member in 1991 when the entire board was recalled. "I am sure there are some very qualified people out there who could take their seats."

The district secretary will present the county's certification of the signature results at the district's Dec. 11 meeting. An election could be called at that time and must take place between 88 and 125 days later.

Payne and O'Shea did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

— Julie Johnson