2024 Election Results: Yucaipa recall and tax measure are both leading

Yucaipa voters are approving the recall of Councilmember Matt Garner, who foes allege failed to properly represent the community, election results posted Thursday afternoon, Nov. 7, show.

The results show nearly 67% of voters are backing Garner's recall from the District 1 seat, while 33% are opposed. The recall needs a simple majority vote to win.

ee a chart of the latest vote counts

Garner was not available for comment Thursday.

Also, the city's Measure S, a local sales tax that city officials said is needed to keep Yucaipa from going bankrupt by 2028 was winning. To pass, the measure requires approval from 50% of voters plus one additional vote in favor.

As of Thursday's 4 p.m. vote tally, 59.79% favored the sales tax and 40.21% were opposed.

City officials plan to discuss with the city council the next steps regarding the recall election at the Wednesday, Nov. 13, meeting, city spokesperson Joe Pradetto said Thursday, Nov. 7.

The San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters must count and submit election results to the city clerk by Dec. 5. The results would go to the council for adoption on Dec. 9. If Garner is recalled and the council adopts the results, he would be removed and his seat would be open. The council would have 60 days to appoint a replacement or call for a special election, Pradetto said.

A special election must take place at the next election date, which would be Nov. 4, 2025, Pradetto said.

Recall proponents from the Save Yucaipa group wrote on their website that Garner has "consistently ignored the wishes of his constituents throughout his tenure," including supporting "every high-density project proposed" to the dismay of residents. The group also alleged he has "refused repeated invitations to meet with his constituents to discuss concerns."

A recall effort began in April 2023 and targeted three Yucaipa councilmembers — Garner, Mayor Justin Beaver and Councilmember Bobby Duncan. Recall backers at the time said they wanted local government to restore transparency after a contentious change in city management in January 2023. The effort is rooted in the council's appointment of Chris Mann as city manager behind closed doors in January, and the abrupt retirement of former City Manager Ray Casey before that.

The effort turned into a lawsuit between the city and recall backers in April 2023.

A legal challenge was filed by City Clerk Ana Sauseda in May against recall proponents, after city officials said in a statement that the recall was based on " lies ." Tensions seemed to dissolve in September, with the city and recall backers agreeing the lawsuit was moot. With Duncan not running for reelection, Garner was the only councilmember that residents continued to target for recall. Potential recall efforts against Beaver never came to fruition.

As for Measure S, if it passes, all funds the tax increase generates would stay in Yucaipa, out of reach from the state or other entities, according to city officials. The measure would add 1 cent to the sales tax, meaning the city would get 2 cents for every taxable $1 purchase.

Measure S would generate nearly $6 million in sales tax revenue for the city each year, Yucaipa officials said.

Also on the ballot were three Yucaipa City Council seats, for Districts 3, 4 and 5.

In District 3 — the seat held by Duncan — Judy Woolsey, the CEO of a nonprofit group, was in the lead, according to early election results, with 36.03%.

Georgeann Hanna, a nonprofit executive director and previously San Bernardino's city clerk, has 32.26%, while business owner Lyle Vick has 31.63%.

In District 4, Beaver has 49.12%; followed by challengers Kristine Mohler, a businesswoman, with 39.26%; and Gordon Renshaw, a painting contractor, with 11.59%.

In District 5, Councilmember Jon Thorpe was unopposed.

The San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters plans its next update for Friday, Nov. 8, at 4 p.m.