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1994-02-22
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SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS
Copyright 1994, San Jose Mercury News
DATE: Tuesday, January 25, 1994
PAGE: 3B EDITION: Morning Final
SECTION: California News LENGTH: 13 in. Medium
ILLUSTRATION: Photo
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: Sacramento
*ROBERTI*FOES FORCE RECALL VOTE
GUN GROUPS BEHIND EFFORT, LAME-DUCK SENATOR SAYS
State Senate leader David*Roberti*on Monday was forced into a recall
election that could turn into a national test of the clout of pro-gun and
gun- control groups.
State election officials said*Roberti*opponents had collected 21,084
valid signatures, enough to require an election this spring. It will be the
first recall vote affecting a state official in 80 years.
Recall supporters said their signature-gathering drive was sparked by
''political*corruption*and hypocrisy in Sacramento.'' But*Roberti*said it was
retribution for his successful efforts to restrict access to military- style
assault weapons.
''This is an attempt to intimidate Congress and every state legislature
as well,''*Roberti*said at a Capitol news conference.
Stephen Helsley, a National Rifle Association lobbyist, denied that the
NRA was involved in the recall drive, but another gun group, Gun Owners of
California, distributed a letter supporting*Roberti's*ouster. John Stoos,
executive director of Gun Owners of California, said voters signed the recall
petitions because they were ''fed up with political*corruption*and hypocrisy
in Sacramento.''
''David*Roberti*is the godfather of political crime,'' Stoos charged.
''Three state senators appointed by Mr.*Roberti*to powerful committee
chairmanships are serving or facing federal time for . . . bribery, extortion
and general political*corruption.''*
Stoos was alluding to the convictions of Sens. Joe Montoya, D-El Monte,
and Paul Carpenter, D-Cypress, and the guilty plea of Sen. Alan Robbins,
D-Van Nuys.*Roberti*has denied any involvement in their crimes.
Recall proponents also have complained that*Roberti*doesn't actually live
in his district, which covers most of the east end of the San Fernando
Valley.
''This election is not about where my wife and I eat dinner,''*Roberti*
said, holding up a Mac-11 assault pistol. ''It's about . . . weapons that
kill kids.''
*Roberti*was one of the authors of 1989 legislation that virtually banned
the sale or transfer of more than 50 types of semiautomatic pistols, rifles
and shotguns that police said were popular with gangs.
Chief Deputy Secretary of State Tony Miller said Gov. Pete Wilson has 60
to 80 days to call a recall election in*Roberti's*20th Senate District. April
12 is a likely date because a recall election would coincide with other local
elections then.
CAPTION: PHOTO:*Roberti* [940125 CA 3B 2]
KEYWORDS: CALIFORNIA CONGRESS MAN RECALL CONTROVERSY
END OF DOCUMENT.