Avenal locals share outrage after three recalled council members vote to keep their seats

A bitter political fight in a small Central California city spiraled into chaos last week after three elected officials who were ousted in a recall election voted to keep their seats anyway — sparking threats and intimidation at a packed council meeting. The turmoil erupted Thursday in Avenal, a city of roughly 13,000 residents in Kings County about 60 miles southwest of Fresno, where supporters and opponents of a controversial recall packed City Hall as the council weighed whether to recognize the results of a special election held April 28.