Greenfield mayor tries to keep his seat in upcoming recall vote.

Greenfield Mayor John Huerta has held elected office in his home city for 18 years, 16 of which he has served as mayor. His tenure has not been without contention. He faced an unsuccessful recall vote in 2012. Now his fate as mayor of Greenfield hangs in the balance again, as residents vote on whether or not to cut his term short on Jan. 24 with another recall vote.

Over McCafé coffee at the Greenfield McDonald’s – which he proudly celebrates for its 2014 opening as the start of drawing more national brands to his city – Huerta doesn’t mince words when talking about the coming vote to unseat him.

“My opponents may cite projects that have taken longer than expected,” Huerta says. “What this is really about is medical marijuana.”

While he claims opposition to developing local cannabis business comes from more conservative elements of the city, part of the controversy is also about his role in aiding medical cannabis business players. On Sept. 27, Huerta was censured by the City Council for improper conduct for attempting to protect unpermitted medicinal marijuana operators, connected to an episode that happened last summer.

On June 8, men in two cars were stopped by a California Highway Patrol officer in a Greenfield industrial park just after midnight. The men voluntarily showed the officers their supply of weed and edibles and claimed to be permitted by the city, which they were not.

After the incident, Huerta allegedly berated City Manager Susan Stanton, who later resigned. Huerta allegedly told Stanton to direct then-police chief Adele Fresé – now the Salinas police chief – to stop harassing cannabis businesses. It’s also alleged he demanded information about the criminal investigation.

Councilmember Leah Santibanez and Jesus Garcia are both looking to fill Huerta’s mayoral seat if he is recalled. Santibanez didn’t reply to repeated requests for comment. Garcia has no published contact information.