FULLERTON – A former councilman who was recalled in June is looking to win back a seat on the council this November.

Don Bankhead, who joined the race just before Wednesday's filing deadline, is among 12 candidates vying for three seats on the council.

Recalled Fullerton councilman Don Bankhead.

"I gave a lot of thought to whether I wanted to run or not," Bankhead said. "My main reason is that I care about the city."

Bankhead was voted out of office along with F. Richard Jones and Pat McKinley, in part, for what recall organizers said was a lack of leadership in the wake of the death of transient Kelly Thomas after a violent encounter with police officers. The three council members were replaced by Travis Kiger, Doug Chaffee and Greg Sebourn.

Said Sebourn: "Bankhead's filing makes the election that much more interesting.

In 1994, Bankhead was among three council members voted out of office for voting in favor of a 2 percent utility tax a year earlier. He was voted out of office in a recall election in October 1994 but voted back in less than a month later.

Bankhead said "extreme" actions by the new council – mainly an attempt to seek a proposal from the Orange County Sheriff's Department to replace the city's police force – give him a chance to win back a seat. The council last week voted 3-2 against seeking a bid from the Sheriff's Department.

"I don't see that (the City Council) are motivated by the needs of Fullerton as a whole," Bankhead said. "They seem to be acting on their own agenda without talking to the people of Fullerton."

Of about 70,000 registered voters in Fullerton, roughly 20,000 cast ballots in the June recall; 66 percent of those voted to recall Bankhead.

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