In wake of recall, Kings County DA tells Avenal council it can’t spend public funds
The Kings County District Attorney’s Office notified Avenal this week to cease and desist from spending any public funds without legal authorization after voters recalled four City Council members in an April 28 special election.
District Attorney Sarah Hacker said in a press conference Friday that her office delivered the letter Thursday. Only one council member lawfully sits on the City Council, she said.
The recall election was certified by the county’s registrar of voters on May 28. The recall had more than 73% voter approval. The recall ballot included Councilmembers Leticia Gamez, David Reynosa and Pablo Hernandez and Mayor Alvaro Preciado. The city has 2,346 registered voters, and voter turnout was 30.43%.
The ballots were sequestered for 17 days pending an appeal, pausing counts while the Fifth District Court of Appeal in Fresno reviewed the election’s legality. On May 13, the appeals court ordered the Kings County registrar to process the ballots and move toward certification.
Preciado’s and Hernandez’s terms expire in November. Gamez’s and Reynosa’s terms expire in 2028. Ricardo Verdugo was the only council member not being recalled. His term expires in November 2028. City Council members are elected at large for four-year terms.
Hacker said the city refused to acknowledge the results when the registrar of voters delivered them in person on May 28. The city maintains that the recall process was conducted unlawfully, that municipal elections must be conducted only by authorized city officials.
Preciado told The Bee that the council will review the results and related documentation at the June 11 council meeting and decide whether to accept or reject the recall election results.
“We respectfully disagree with the district attorney,” he said in response to the DA’s press conference. “It is my belief that the county has no authority over the city, and we’re here to serve the residents of Avenal and not the Board of Supervisors,” Preciado said.
He said the city legal counsel is preparing to send a formal response letter to the DA’s Office, the county Sheriff’s Department and the Board of Supervisors explaining the city’s position on the recall election and the cease-and-desist letter.
Hacker said her office recognized the “overwhelming public support for the recall” and will uphold the city government’s accountability to spend public funds legally. “We will not hesitate to use the full authority of the District Attorney’s Office to protect public funds, enforce state law and to ensure that public officials operate within the boundaries of their legal authority,” Hacker said.
She said any unauthorized expenditure of public money is a violation of public trust.
Hacker said the recalled four council members were advised to step down, and the city was warned against illegal expenditures.
“The ball is in their court; they can choose to obey the law and understand that ... the people have spoken and it’s ultimately up to them to decide how they’re going to act,” Hacker said. “However, if they continue to spend public funds, there are criminal codes that allow us to intervene.”
Hacker said that during the city’s May 28 council meeting, there were votes regarding public funds being spent.
This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 6:21 PM with the headline "In wake of recall, Kings County DA tells Avenal council it can’t spend public funds."
