Obagi recall qualifies for ballot in Redondo
by Garth Meyer
Petitioners for a recall of District Four City Councilman Zein Obagi, Jr. have pulled off a “miracle of all miracles,” as supporter and financial backer Elliot Lewis described, receiving word last Friday they had enough verified signatures to qualify for the November 8 ballot.
Los Angeles County attested to 2,452 legitimate signers, 50 over the minimum mark of 25 percent of District Four’s registered voters.
Lewis turned in 2,794 signatures June 22.
“The people got tired of them; knocking on doors four to five times,” said Obagi, Jr. “Most people didn’t even know what they were signing. The residents got lied to and pestered and harassed.”
Obagi accused signature-gatherers of falsely saying he was going to disband the fire department, among other things. The Redondo Beach Firefighters Association endorses him.
While Peter Aziz was the proponent, Lewis, CEO of Catalyst Cannabis Co. of Long Beach, funded signature gatherers and tapped his employees to help with the effort.
He became involved in Redondo Beach politics last fall after circulating a petition to legalize retail cannabis sales in town.
The city council declined to adopt his ordinance in a 5-0 vote.
This January, Lewis turned his attention to a recall against Obagi.
“It’s a waste of time,” said the first-term councilman, who was elected in March 2021. “I don’t dislike cannabis, I dislike his selfish agenda.”
Why did Lewis, and Catalyst co-founder Damian Martin pick Obagi to go after, instead of any of the other four council representatives?
“Because I sued him before, and then I punked Damian Martin when he came to the council,” Obagi said.
In 2019, Obagi, an attorney, sued Lewis’ EEL Holdings on behalf of a client over a lease dispute for a building owned by Lewis. It was settled out of court in 2020.
“It was not significant,” said Lewis, of whether it motivates him. “I’ve been in a lot of litigation.”
Martin’s city council appearance was last October.
“The next guy that invites us into his house and disrespects Catalyst may want to think twice,” Lewis said of how Martin’s speaking slot went that night. “Obagi was the worst, but why invite us to a meeting and not have a dialogue?”
Lewis and Martin sent a mailer on Christmas Eve disparaging Obagi for allegations made against him by the State Bar.
Then they spearheaded the recall.
“The dislike for Obagi was palpable,” Lewis said. “The other councilmembers were safer, so we (targeted) Obagi.”
Questions about Lewis’ motivations have persisted. One of which is whether changing the District Four city council seat could help Catalyst obtain a retail cannabis license in the city – or more than one.
“I don’t really think one council member is going to make a substantial difference,” said Lewis. “And if I’m a betting man, by doing the recall we probably hurt our chances of (our cannabis measure) winning in Redondo Beach. We’re doing this so we’ll get the respect we’re due in other cities moving forward.”
Catalyst Cannabis Co. CEO Elliot Lewis (right) and parent company co-founder and attorney Damian A. Martin. Photo by Nathan Avila.
In February, Lewis connected with a group of disgruntled District Four residents who attempted to organize an Obagi recall last summer.
This time, it caught on. Signature-gatherers, paid for by Lewis, hit the streets, with 90 days to reach the required total.
“This was a team built on guts and will,” Lewis said, about a group of roughly 10 people – half locals and half Cannabis Catalyst Company employees. A third-party firm was initially included.
As the June deadline neared, Lewis put in more and more hours himself walking and knocking.
“A group of Spartans trying to defend what’s theirs,” Lewis said. “When the CEO is on the street, people start to rally. We we’re at about a thousand (signatures) on June first. A lot of our budtenders came out and helped. It’s not about winning, I just don’t like losing.”
Of those who signed the recall petition, 17 people signed a form asking that their names be removed.
Obagi now prepares to defend his seat.
“I will do a little campaigning, get the truth out, I’m optimistic,” he said. “Frankly, I don’t see anybody doing better.”
“If Obagi was out the last weekend gathering countersignatures, he would’ve won,” Lewis said.
He noted the councilman’s recent comments at city council about the mayor pro-tem vote.
“To me, that’s why he’s being recalled. These little petty things Obagi’s engaging in are not representing your constituents,” Lewis said.
Signatures or not, Obagi supporters back him up.
“Zein’s a good guy and done a lot for the fire department, and stood by his word,” said Kenny Campos, president of the Redondo Beach Firefighters Association. “He was the biggest (council member) fighting for us to get everything we needed in the (2023) budget.”
The city council will set the candidate filing deadline for the recall ballot on July 19.
The November ballot will first ask voters if they want to recall District Four Representative Obagi. If there are more “yes” votes than “no,” then the top vote-getter will take the seat.
“I hope he’s ready for a scrap,” Lewis said.
At the start of Tuesday night’s city council meeting, the councilman announced he faces a recall election.
“I am very excited for this,” Obagi said. “All eyes will be on District Four, as they should be, because they weren’t before I got elected.” ER