About three dozen neighbors sit around tables in the basement of St. Rocco's church in Cleveland. They've all come to hear what Ward 14 Councilman Joe Santiago has to say. Even though the councilman was elected two years ago, on this night, he's busy campaigning.
Santiago -- the city's second Hispanic councilman -- faces a recall vote Tuesday that was set in motion by Nelson Cintron Jr., the city's first Hispanic council member.
Connie Hardy is a regular volunteer at Santiago's meetings.
Connie Hardy: He's a very nice man. He cares about the community and he's done so many things to change it since he's been in office. It's really sad that we have to go through this.
The Cuyahoga elections board puts the cost of the recall at $47,005 -- all to potentially undo an election in which 3,099 people voted. Hardy says people don't have much, and now what little money and energy they have will be spent on the recall instead of on ward problems. She and volunteer Linda Little figure recalls should be reserved for serious wrong doers.
Linda Little: If you're a felon, or if you do something drastically wrong...
Connie Hardy: You know, say, like murder or something. Or embezzlement...
Linda Little: It just doesn't seem right. Just because someone doesn't think you're doing what they want you to do. You have to do it for the betterment for the whole community, not just for certain people. You know you'll never please everyone.
Some say the recall is just a continuation of an old rivalry, egged on by Cintron, who lost the last election by 106 votes. Santiago disagrees.
Joe Santiago: There might be a rivalry with him, but with me, I have an agenda, and that's to work toward the betterment of our community. I have to leave things in the past, you know I won the election fair and square. When I took office, my office was left empty. So we started from Scratch, and I think within 22 months, we've accomplished quite a bit.
Santiago lists 45 accomplishments in his newsletter, including replacing boarded up structures with stores and restaurants and securing funding to renovate a neighborhood park.
Still, over 800 people signed the petitions Cintron circulated. He says he was asked to get involved by residents. His signed affidavit says Santiago ignored resident's opposition to a local bar and a doggie daycare center, and that he went back on a promise to move into the ward if elected - not a legal requirement for council members.
Former Ward 14 business owner Brenton Thompson says he quote "harassed" Cintron to start the recall when his request for intervention with Santiago was rebuffed by the city.
Brenton Thompson: I wanted them to mediate so that we could talk to him instead of having someone tell me to shut up.
Sitting in the Clark Avenue McDonalds that Cintron calls his office, customers greet the Former councilman in Spanish. One man, who declines to give his name, says he supports Cintron, but…
Man: Recall, no I'm not into that. (He speaks Spanish to Cintron, and Cintron answers) I worked in Puerto Rico where there's politics, I don't want politics.
Nelson Cintron Jr.: A lot of people are afraid to say who they're for and who they're against. But in their heart, where is he? He's a councilman not to be found.
And, he says, he has one distinct advantage going into this recall.
Nelson Cintron Jr.: I know Joe Santiago is not a resident of Ward 14. One thing for sure then is my vote will count on his recall. His vote will not count.
Kymberli Hagelberg, 90.3.