Peter Corbett

The Republic | azcentral.com

A political group opposing a West Valley casino filed petitions to recall Glendale City Councilman Gary Sherwood

The group claims to have more than enough valid signatures to force a recall

A recall election would be the first in at least 20 years

The Glendale city clerk has tossed recall petitions seeking to oust Councilman Gary Sherwood over his support of a West Valley casino.

City Clerk Pam Hanna ruled Tuesday the petitions did not have required language at the top of each sheet and did not disclose whether the petition gatherers were being paid.

Last Friday, a committee filed petitions in an effort to force a recall election of Sherwood of the Sahuaro District.

The group, headed by Anna Lee, turned in 398 petition sheets and leaders estimated it had more than 6,000 signatures. The group needs 2,751 valid signatures from registered district voters to force an election.

"His changing position on the casino is just one of the issues," said Lee, adding that Sherwood also voted to extend a 0.9 percent sales-tax increase and supported the city's $225 million deal for the Arizona Coyotes to manage the Gila River Arena.

Sherwood opposed the Tohono O'odham Nation's casino when he ran for City Council in 2012. But in August, he led a council majority that chose to end its legal opposition to the casino and accept a $26 million agreement with the tribe, paid over 20 years.

Lee's group then launched a recall of Sherwood with an initial campaign donation of $16,000 from Neighbors for a Better Glendale, a group funded by the Gila River Indian Community.

Gila River and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community are engaged in a 5-year legal battle to stop the competing casino on Tohono O'odham trust land southeast of Loop 101 and Northern Avenue. Grading of the site began last week

Sherwood said he switched positions on the casino when it became clear that the city could not stop the tribe from building a casino.

"I figured let's make the best of it," he said of Glendale's deal with the tribe

Lee could not be reached to determine if she will appeal the clerk's ruling.

Sherwood had said he would not resign if the recall group had enough valid signatures.

"I was prepared to fight this recall if it would have come to fruition," he said. " I had an outpouring of support, both financially and boots on the ground."

If the recall group had enough valid signatures, it would be the first Glendale recall election in her 20 years in office, said Hanna, adding that she is unaware of any previous recalls.