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Editorial: Recall effort an abuse of constitution San Diego Union-Tribune June 18 For the first time in history, California is hurtling toward an election in which voters could recall the governor. Events are moving swiftly behind the scenes. It's time to sit up and pay attention. ... (T)he bid to oust Gray Davis less than a year after his re-election is an abuse of the recall provisions of the state constitution. That process should be reserved ... for officeholders who are guilty of malfeasance. It should not be employed to refight the last election. ... Yet, whether we approve or not, the question of whether to remove Davis from office appears headed for the ballot, either in a fall special election or in California's regular presidential primary next March. ... Among Republican voters, only 8 percent approve of Davis' job performance. This is significant because if the recall balloting is held in the fall, the turnout is likely to be more heavily Republican than if it is held next March, when Democratic voters will be drawn to the polls to select a presidential candidate. On the same ballot with the recall question, voters would be asked to choose a gubernatorial successor from what could be a long list of Democratic, Republican and third-party candidates ... (to) finish out the remaining three years of Davis' term. The victor need not win a majority of the votes, which means Davis could be replaced by a contender who gained, say, only 15 percent of the total votes cast. ... The list of potential Democratic hopefuls is even longer: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, Attorney General Bill Lockyer, Treasurer Phil Angelides, not to mention Davis himself battling to persuade voters to retain him, thereby making the second question on the ballot moot. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -