Recall of Richard Pan over vaccine bill cleared for signatures

Thwarted in the Legislature, opponents of California’s vaccine mandate law have turned to the ballot box with a recall aimed at Senate Bill 277’s champion.

A campaign to recall Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, the pediatrician who carried the bill requiring full vaccinations for school children, has been cleared to advance to the signature-gathering phase. Proponents have until Dec. 31 to collect 35,926 verified signatures from registered voters in his district.

Crafted in response to a measles outbreak that began in Disneyland, SB 277 spurred a furious backlash from parents assailing a loss of child-rearing autonomy and insisting that vaccines are unsafe. As they lined up at hearings to testify against the bill, many vowed to make lawmakers pay at election time.

Their efforts to block the bill failed, with Gov. Jerry Brown signing it into law, but they are making good on the election threat. In addition to seeking to recall Pan, bill opponents are seeking to overturn the law via referendum.

At a press conference after the signing Pan said he was “not concerned” with the recall effort, predicting that constituents largely support the legislation.

“I ran to be sure we keep our communities safe and healthy,” Pan said. “That’s what I ran on; that’s what I told the voters. And I feel that this bill, this law now, is actually a shining example of me keeping my promise to the people of my district.”

Pan is not the only legislator whose SB 277 stance has fueled a recall effort. Bill detractors are seeking to recall a number of legislators who voted for the measure, backed by a Fresno-based organization called SB 277 Recalls that is directing funds and marshaling volunteers to launch district-level efforts.

They have taken initial steps toward a recall of Sen. Andy Vidak, a Fresno Republican who broke with most of his party in voting for the bill. A push to unseat Sen. Bill Monning, D-Carmel, who voted for the bill on two separate committees and spoke strongly in its favor, foundered as proponents failed to submit their petition in time.

“They did not meet that deadline,” said Sam Mahood, a spokesman for the California secretary of state’s office.

This story was originally published July 28, 2015 at 1:34 PM with the headline "Recall of Richard Pan over vaccine bill cleared for signatures."