Accusations, innuendo in Cathedral City recount

Challenger Chip Yarborough says a recount is a must after incumbent Kathy DeRosa won by a razor-thin margin.

“13 votes aren’t that many. My phone has been going crazy from supporters saying ‘you have to do it — 13 votes is just too close,'” said Yarborough.

The campaign’s over, but that hasn’t cooled things off between the two. Yarborough recently filed a complaint to the Fair Political Practices Commission accusing DeRosa of campaign spending violations.

“We knew she was not reporting her spending and contributions correctly,” said Yarborough.

DeRosa says there’s nothing there and that she responded and provided information to the commission.

“A note from the investigator who said ‘once you get the amendment filed I will quickly dispatch of this,'” said DeRosa.

Yarborough also obtained what he believes are unethical emails between the mayor and city clerk Pat Hammers.

“She’s supposed to be the neutral third-party city clerk. She’s supposed to be unbiased, but this entire election she has been bias towards us,” said the challenger.

But Hammers said she’s done no wrong.

“Nothing stops me from voting. Nothing stops me from supporting candidates and nothing in the law stops me from speaking to my elected mayor,” Hammers said.

Yarborough points to an email in which Hammers called voters “stupid” and a “wannabe” candidate “dumb” and “misinformed.”

DeRosa defended Hammers by saying Yarborough took the email out of context and that hammers was just “blowing off steam.”

“As leader of the city, I’ve got a lot of other problems than to deal with accusations and innuendos that just come out of nowhere,” the mayor said.

DeRosa has also been upset over a flier depicting her as a witch — flying away on a broom with a request for people to donate to Yarborough’s recount.

“I didn’t ask for the flier. I didn’t pay for the flier. Didn’t even know it was out there,” said Yarborough.