LAWRENCE — The new group trying to recall Mayor William Lantigua has added two more reasons to an affidavit stating why the state's first Hispanic mayor should go — the state deemed him "unqualified" to lead schools and his "disrespectful" behavior toward a woman at a peace march that was caught on tape.
"He is not capable and qualified to run the city," said Josue Hernandez, 24, the chairman of recall group Uniting Lawrence. "Uniting Lawrence is the only way we are going to succeed."
Uniting Lawrence held its kick-off meeting last night at Attorney Anthony Difruscia's office building and more than 100 people attended.
The group is taking over the work of It's Your Right, an effort to recall Lantigua over the summer which came up about 900 signatures short of the 5,232 needed to start the process.
"My concern as a young parent and resident is that (Lantigua) is not concerned about public safety and education," said Hernandez, 24.
Joining Hernandez in the group's leadership is his father Victor Hernandez, Wayne Hayes, Kathy Hayes and Beverly McNamara. The first effort was organized by the Rev. Edwin Rodriguez, who is now a candidate for city council.
During the meeting, Wayne Hayes talked about the importance of getting 100 registered voters to sign the affidavit so they can start the recall.
Once the recall effort starts, Uniting Lawrence will have 30 days to obtain the 5,232 signatures, or 15 percent of the registered voters in the 2009 election when Lantigua was elected as mayor. If the signatures are validated, the petition would be submitted to the City Council.
Lantigua would have five days to resign or the City Council would have to order an election within 60 days. The ballot would ask voters if they are for or against the recall. They would also choose a candidate to succeed Lantigua if a majority of the vote is in favor of the recall.
The affidavit printed, in both English and Spanish, mentions six reasons why the group wants to oust Lantigua, many of which were used in this summer's first recall attempt — the federal investigation into Lantigua and his administration and his public statements against police and firefighters.
But organizers have also included two new items — a state Department of Education report which slammed Lantigua's leadership and deemed him "unqualified" to lead School Committee meetings and his "callous behavior and "disrespectful" body language at a peace march last month. The Eagle-Tribune caught Lantigua on video standing before a crowd and repeatedly pointing at his feet toward a woman speaking out against violence in the city.
Also in attendance last night was District F Councilor Marc Laplante, whom Lantigua called "an enemy of the people," and council candidates Chally Ramos, who is running for an at-large seat, and Kathleen Rundge, who is running for District E.
Several residents who were part of the first recall effort also joined Uniting Lawrence last night. Maureen Hayward is one of them.
"I was definitely disappointed with the first recall, but something has to change and if we don't do anything, it won't," said Hayward, who has lived in Lawrence 25 years. "The violence has not gone away, it has gotten worse."
Johnny Greene who has lived in the city for five years agrees.
"The city is going to hell and we need a change," Greene said.
