California judge rules Avenal officials who refused to leave after recall were there illegally

Four Avenal, California, officials who remained in power after voters recalled them in April are “not lawfully” holding office, a judge ruled Monday, bringing a legal rebuke to one of the state’s most unusual local election controversies. Kings County Judge Jennifer Giuliani said recalled Mayor Alvaro Preciado and city council members Leticia Gamez, Pablo Hernandez,…