OCEANSIDE -- Rather than address complaints made about her in a proposed recall petition, Councilwoman Esther Sanchez chose to highlight her achievements in Oceanside when she filed an official response Thursday to the petition with the city clerk's office.

"This (recall) process for me is about saying what is good about Oceanside," Sanchez told 20 supporters who accompanied her to the city clerk's office Thursday afternoon. "We are going to continue to move forward in a positive direction."

Sanchez submitted a 200-word response to a petition that a former city police and fire commissioner, Lawson Chadwick, had filed a week earlier with the city clerk's office to begin the long process of recalling the councilwoman.

Sanchez said Thursday that she didn't have the space on the response to properly comment on issues raised in Lawson's petition, but said she would soon hold a series of public workshops to address the issues.

The response from Sanchez will appear on the petition presented to voters, along with the six reasons Chadwick listed for recalling her, including her support to remove the Rancho Del Oro freeway interchange from the city's future road plans and voting to refuse a federal grant for the Oceanside Municipal Airport.

The petition also questions Sanchez's positions on affordable housing, selling city property, raises for city employees and support for youth programs.

"The wording of the petition is so ridiculous that anyone who knows about what is going on at City Hall will realize they are false accusations," said Sanchez, who had a copy of her response sent via certified mail to Chadwick. "I don't want to focus on false statements. I want to focus on what is true and that we are going forward in a positive direction."

In her response, Sanchez lists 17 different ways she has helped restore faith in local government, expanded economic opportunities, protected public safety and stood up for community concerns.

Sanchez pointed out she helped the city decide on a downtown beach resort and expose what she described as "corruption at City Hall" earlier this year involving Oceanside's former transportation manager.

She also noted her support for community projects such as a second senior center, clearing the San Luis Rey River and the expansion of the art museum.

Residents who came to support Sanchez on Thursday praised her accomplishments since her election in 2000 and re-election in 2004.

"When you have a problem in the neighborhood, she listens to you and tries to find a way to help," said Margaret Hernandez, a longtime Oceanside resident who has worked on Sanchez's campaigns. "I really believe in her and want her to keep working for us."

Chadwick has said he wants to give all Oceanside voters the chance to determine whether Sanchez should remain on the council. He said residents have a right under the state constitution to recall elected officials.

"Democracy is like making sausage -- it's not pretty to look at," Chadwick said. "A recall is one means the voters have to redress grievances."

Chadwick has said he is upset about being removed last year from the Police and Fire Commission by Sanchez, Mayor Wood and Councilwoman Shari Mackin.

He said he decided to launch a recall against Sanchez because she is the "power behind the throne" in Oceanside, and "I can't recall everyone."

Chadwick said he would welcome a public debate with Sanchez about the issues he raised in the recall petition because she didn't address the statements in her response.

"I find it very odd she wouldn't want to refute each issue and have a civic debate about what is good for Oceanside," Chadwick said. "I believe in good government."

Sanchez said she believes the recall effort is a political move to try to break up the council majority of herself, Mackin and Wood. She said a recall is unnecessary because Mackin and Councilman Rocky Chavez are up for election this fall, and voters will decide who they want controlling the council.

"What this city needs is stability because we have had enough divisiveness," Sanchez said. "A recall will be bad for business and will tear this city apart."

Chadwick said a recall is needed to stop Sanchez from continuing to waste taxpayers' money.

A recall vote will cost the city about $400,000, said City Clerk Barbara Riegel Wayne.

She said Chadwick has 10 days from Thursday to file two copies of the petition he plans to present to Oceanside voters.

She said that after a recall petition has been filed, the city has 10 days to make sure the format meets detailed state election guidelines. If there are problems with the petition, the city returns it to the applicant, who then has 10 days to refile it. Then the city has another 10 days to verify it was done properly.

Once the city signs off on the petition, Chadwick will have 160 days to collect signatures from people who support a recall. To put a recall on the ballot requires signatures from 15 percent of registered voters, or about 10,680 signatures, Riegel Wayne said.

Chadwick said he plans to set up tables in front of large stores such as Wal-Mart.

"We have just made the first couple of steps in the process," he said. "Government is not always pretty."

Contact staff writer David Sterrett at (760) 901-4067 or dsterrett@nctimes.com.

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