Mayor Of Hercules Recalled

HERCULES, Calif. (AP) -- Voters in the Contra Costa County city of Hercules have recalled the mayor and a city councilman.

More than 80 percent of those who cast a ballot in Tuesday's special election voted to recall Mayor Joanne Ward and Councilman Donald Kuehne.

Voters were apparently unhappy with the city's deteriorating financial situation and six-figure contracts between the city and a firm owned by family members of the former city manager.

William Wilkins, a retired real estate agent for the city of Oakland, is currently leading the race to replace Mayor Ward. Absentee ballots are still being counted.

Gerard Boulanger, a business owner, was the only candidate running for Kuehne's seat.

Ward said she had been misled into believing the city's finances were in order. Kuehne said the decisions that got the city in trouble were made before he joined the council.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)