Filner Recall Organizers Gather to Celebrate

The leaders and volunteers behind the Recall Bob Filner movement gathered Wednesday evening for a victory celebration.

Recall Bob Filner chairman Michael Pallamary and other leaders of the recall campaign met at O’Brien’s Pub in Kearny Mesa at 6:30 p.m.

The group got together to celebrate San Diego Mayor Bob Filner’s resignation and the official end of the recall campaign.

“These key activists were responsible for the fast start of the recall petition drive. This event is a celebration and thank you for all of their hard work,” an invitation to the event read.

At O'Brien's Pub, Pallamary spoke out and thanked volunteers for their time and dedication.

“We really want to celebrate and recognize some of the core people that worked on the recall campaign with us. O’Brien’s was one of the signing places, and we gathered a lot of signatures here,” Pallamary said. "We're just recognizing our efforts and celebrating."

Despite the fact that the recall campaign was cut short due to Filner's resignation, Pallamary believes their efforts really put the pressure on the mayor to step down.

"The recall clock is the only clock Filner had no control over. We feel very strongly that that's why he moved as fast as he did [in his resignation from office]," Pallamary added. "He knew we were coming. San Diego rose in a very powerful way."

City Attorney Jan Goldsmith (pictured below, in red shirt) and Councilmember Kevin Faulconer both attended Wednesday's celebration and applauded recall leaders and volunteers on their efforts.

Goldsmith said it's now time for San Diego to move forward under strong, competent new leadership.

“We need someone who can manage people well, who can be like the CEO of a corporation. We’re a $2 billion operation with over 9,000 employees, so I’d really try to find somebody who knows how to do things, that is skilled and experienced in running something,” Goldsmith told NBC 7 at the recall celebration. “This is really important. If we really want to have a good quality of life in San Diego, we need to have good management.”

As for the recall, over the weekend recall co-organizer Rachel Laing said the campaign was winding down in the wake of Filner’s resignation. The 1,200 recall volunteers have been asked to return all signed petitions to recall headquarters.

On Friday – the day Filner announced his resignation – Laing told the San Diego City Council that recall volunteers had collected more than 20,000 signatures in just five days.

Filner's last day in office is this Friday.

"The real celebration is 5 p.m. on Friday, when the mayor officially leaves," Pallamary added.

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