City collective initiates recall campaign targeting Balch Springs City Council representative
Firing Up the Recall:
Former Balch Springs advisory board member, Jess Reaka, locked horns with City Council member Paula Garcia once again. This time, Reaka took the lead in an attempt to recall Garcia who had just recently won reelection.
In a bold move, Reaka submitted an affidavit on the 15th of May, marking the beginning of the petition to oust Garcia. The reasons cited were plentiful, ranging from her questionable conduct, abuse of office, and neglect of public interests.
Chatting with KERA, Reaka expressed her concerns about Garcia's tendencies to bully those who dared cross her, with local residents reportedly keeping a low profile to avoid her ire. Reaka isn't a resident of Garcia's district, but she's not new to the city council drama. She was removed from her positions on the Park and Recreation Advisory Board and the Flood and Drainage Committee earlier this year, all due to a stringent new social media policy that supposedly restricts board members from criticizing the city.
Garcia, who garnered vote support from several city council members during Reaka's removal, found herself on the receiving end this time. Tiffany James, a resident within Garcia's district, was among the five signatories on the affidavit. James shared her apprehensions about the silencing of voices that try to address systemic errors and how that fueled her involvement in the recall effort.
In addition, James pointed to the racial slur used by Garcia during a city council meeting on Jan 27th, and the resulting backlash. While Garcia denied the use of the slur herself, claiming it was uttered by former City Council member Angela Singletary, Singletary refuted the allegations.
Despite Garcia's lack of response to multiple requests for comment, the recall initiative must meet specific criteria to progress. As per city ordinance, the group would have 30 days to collect the signatures of voters within her district who make up at least 50% of those who participated in the last election.
Garcia successfully secured a third term in the May 3rd election, winning 62 votes out of 108.
Balch Springs residents, such as Deborah Culberson, who inhabits Garcia's district, consider the recall effort detrimental to the community's wellbeing. According to Culberson, constituents should support those they know will work for the community's best interests rather than engage in political fiascos.
As the city secretary evaluates the affidavit, the road ahead for the Garcia recall effort remains unclear.
Priscilla Rice is KERA's community reporter, always on the lookout for hot topics. Drop her a line at [email protected].
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- Priscilla Rice, the KERA community reporter, is closely following the political drama in Balch Springs, especially the ongoing recall effort against City Council member Paula Garcia, which was initiated by former advisory board member Jess Reaka.
- The Balch Springs community is divided over the recall effort, with some residents such as Deborah Culberson, who inhabits Garcia's district, viewing the action as detrimental to the community's wellbeing, while others, like Tiffany James, have voiced their concerns about Garcia's conduct and her alleged silencing of voices trying to address systemic errors, leading them to support the recall initiative.
