MEETING DATE December 3, 2025
PREPARED FOR Mayor and Town Council
PREPARED BY Christine Foster, Assistant to the Town Manager/Deputy Town Clerk Janet Coleson, Town Attorney
SUBJECT Adopt a Resolution Reciting the Fact of the General Election held on November 4, 2025, Declaring the Result and Such Other Matters as Provided by Law
RECOMMENDATION
That the Town Council adopt a Resolution entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF FAIRFAX, CALIFORNIA, RECITING THE FACT OF A SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER 4, 2025 FOR THE SUBMISSION OF
THE QUESTIONS OF THE RECALL OF CERTAIN OFFICERS, DECLARING THE RESULTS AND SUCH
OTHER MATTERS AS PROVIDED BY LAW
BACKGROUND
On June 30, 2025, proponents seeking the removal of Council Members Blash and Hellman timely filed in the Fairfax Town Clerk’s Office two recall petitions. After the Town Clerk’s Office accepted both recall petitions for filing, the petitions were referred to the Marin County Registrar of Voters, who conducted formal signature verification with official County voter records. The verification determined both petitions contained sufficient voter signatures to qualify both recalls for the ballot.
At the August 6, 2025 Council meeting, pursuant to California Elections Code sections 11224 and 11227, the Town Clerk/Elections Official submitted to the Town Council a Certificate of Sufficiency as to both petitions indicating that both recalls have qualified for the ballot. At the August 6, 2025 meeting, the Town Council adopted the required resolutions to schedule the recall special election for November, 4, 2025.
DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS
A Special Municipal Election was held in the Town of Fairfax on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 for the purposes of submitting the questions to Fairfax voters regarding whether Councilmembers Blash and Hellman should be recalled from the Fairfax Town Council. The County of Marin Registrar of Voters has completed the canvass of the results, and the appropriate Resolution has been prepared for adoption.
The results are attached as Exhibit “A” to the above entitled Resolution and indicate that Councilmembers Blash and Hellman have not been recalled from the Town Council. They will, therefore, continue to serve in their respective offices.
It is particularly noted that Elections Code section 11328 and 10263 state as follows:
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FAIRFAX TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
STAFF REPORT
“11328 A recall election shall be conducted, canvassed, and the results declared in substantially the manner provided by law for a regular election for the office.
For a regular Council election, the rule is as follows:
10263 Upon the completion of the canvass and before installing the new officers, the governing body shall adopt a resolution reciting the fact of the election and the other matters that are enumerated in Section 10264. The governing body shall declare elected the persons for whom the highest number of votes were cast for each office.”
The Council does not have the discretion not to adopt it due to any disagreements with the election results. Any disputes about the validity of the election results themselves must be pursued in court as set forth in the California Elections Code.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
ATTACHMENT
The resolution and final certified election results will be provided as a supplement prior to the December 3, 2025, meeting.
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