St. Francis residents seeking signatures to oust council member

Before the movie "Cars" starts running at the city of St. Francis' Community Park tonight, residents may be treated not to dueling race cars, but to dueling viewpoints. Members of a committee campaigning for the recall of City Council Member LeRoy Schaffer will be there, gathering signatures, and Schaffer says he also will be in attendance, working the crowd and trying to "neutralize the acidity" in the community.

Residents Trent Blake, Jeff Sandoval, Dan Emery, Amy Lazere and Larry Anderson filed the certification for recall last week; they have until Sept. 5 to gather 741 registered voters' signatures, enough to get the question on the Nov. 4 ballot.

They say Schaffer's high-profile issues such as a sexual harassment charge last year, a police call to check the immigration status of a crew of Spanish-speaking roofers in June, and a tirade at a KSTP-TV reporter were just the tip of an iceberg that also includes a pattern of acting on the city's behalf without council sanction.

Schaffer argues that his actions have been misinterpreted and vilified by a city elite that resents his refusal to play according to its rules.

Talk of a recall started late last year, before the council censured Schaffer for making inappropriate comments to a 20-year-old woman at a community function.

The movement gathered momentum over the months and hit a critical point this summer.

Blake, a onetime contender for Schaffer's council seat, said he initially resisted joining to avoid the appearance that he was a sore loser. But Schaffer's conduct in the wake of the call to police about the roofers put him over the edge.

"I'm not trying to slander the guy or anything like that," he said. "I do believe he has a lot of passion for what he does, but at times I believe he lets his passion get out of control, and it's time for a change."

Emery said the high-profile issues got his attention, but that he's pursuing the recall because of Schaffer's actions in and on behalf of the City Council, including getting a quote for Anoka County to take over policing in the community and soliciting businesses to set up shop in St. Francis without backing from the city.

"I don't see the purpose of it, and he's not the type of person I would send from my city to attract a business," he said.

After the group members collect signatures, they will submit them to the city clerk, who will have to verify that each one belongs to a St. Francis resident who also is a registered voter. If they make their goal of 20 percent of the registered voters, the question whether Schaffer will be recalled will go on the ballot. If voters approve the measure, the City Council will appoint a resident to fill out the remaining two years of Schaffer's term.

Sandoval is planning a run for one of two open City Council seats held by Steve Kane and Ray Jones. Blake is considering a run; he won't decide until the recall petition is completed.

For his part, Schaffer argues that he was doing his job in the way he saw fit.

"I haven't played their game, followed the leader and that," he said. "I don't give the company line if I feel it's stupid."

Schaffer says he's mostly biding his time until Sept. 5, but if push comes to shove, he'll defend himself.

"I'm not looking for a fight but if someone comes after me I'm going to fight back," he said.

Maria Elena Baca • 612-673-4409