California: A look at the problems of San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi

At the end of the piece, SF Chronicle columnist Laura Knight notes that the recall effort against San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi could not start until July 8 (SF has a six month delay rule). Petitioners would need 47,000 signatures. For some reason, she notes that petitions need to be handed in by July 24 to have the recall sync up with election day. The piece seems to feel that this too tight deadline would prevent a recall, but I don't see why -- petitioners don't have to get it in for an election day recall. They can just wait to have a special election one.