Garcia announced last week that he would begin a recall movement against Public Works Commissioner Tina Yandolino and Public Safety Commissioner Michael Leggiero within the next two weeks. He is hoping to have this recall on the same ballot as Stack's recall against him.
"I wasn't surprised to hear that he was going to recall us," said Yandolino. "I was surprised that he only recalled two of us."
Leggiero is on vacation this week and could not be reached for comment.
Revenue and Finance Commissioner Ralph Fraguela, a member of Stack's three-member recall committee, has not been named in Garcia's recall movement.
"Not at this time," said Garcia, when asked if he is planning on recalling Fraguela as well. "I may recall him in the future, and I may not."
Yandolino, Leggiero and Fraguela together voted to strip Garcia of his power and place him as commissioner of the town's smallest department, which is parks and public property. (The mayor of Union City also serves as a commissioner on the Board of Commissioners.)
Garcia, however, denied rumors that he is declining to recall Fraguela because he wants to form an all-Hispanic board.
"I am going to look for two qualified running mates that will vote with the city's interests," said Garcia. "They may very well be Hispanic."
Garcia added, "We will have control of the city again and will work for the city's interest, not our personal interests."
Yandolino described this recall as "the act of a desperate man."
With cause
Although the letter of intent that has to be filed with the city clerk to begin a recall movement does not have to state any reasons for the movement, Garcia feels that a lack of competency and morality have been found in both Leggiero and Yandolino.
"Even in politics you should have a level of morality and competency," said Garcia. "Both [Leggiero and Yandolino] voted for my budget, which was balanced, and then switched their vote. They voted to block the sale of Roosevelt Stadium and the development of the Bus Depot [on 27th Street and Bergenline Avenue]. They then voted to raise taxes."
The sale of Roosevelt Stadium and the Redevelopment of the Bus Depot were both one-shot revenues included in last year's regular budget. However, because the sale of the stadium did not go through and the sale of the depot only brought $3.5 million into the city's budget, property taxes experienced a more than $3 million increase.
Stack has listed the recent tax increase and the city's financial debt as reasons for his recall against Garcia. Yandolino said that she does not deserve to be recalled.
"I have worked very diligently and at my job as commissioner," said Yandolino. "And I feel that my record speaks for itself."
However, as of right now, Yandolino said that no plans have been made for running with Stack on a five-person ticket against Garcia if a special election takes place.
"We are going to see how things progress," said Yandolino. "First he has to get the signatures. If he gets enough signatures for the recall to take place, then we will make a decision."
Garcia will need to get signatures from 25 percent of the voters registered in the last election to hold a special election.
"It will take a tremendous amount of work and manpower to get those signatures signed," said Yandolino. Garcia plans to open a headquarters for his recall committee at 4315 Bergenline Ave. However, the other two signers of the letter of intent have not yet been decided.
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