Recalled Avenal city councilmembers cannot continue to hold office, judge rules

AVENAL, Calif. (KFSN) -- A judge has ruled that the recalled councilmembers in the city of Avenal cannot continue to hold office.

Voters will now get the opportunity to decide their replacement in November's general election.

It comes after a months-long battle following a recall election in April, where voters overwhelmingly chose to remove the city's mayor and three other councilmembers.

But those recalled officials refused to give up their positions.

Weeks later, Kings County investigators served search warrants connected to the four recalled city officials.



Ricardo Verdugo, the only Avenal councilmember not recalled, later appointed himself the mayor of Avenal.