"We've seen some serious problems with Davis' performance," said Jeff Stanley, a nine-year Willow Glen resident. "We should have gotten rid of him a long time ago."

Getting rid of him in a special election is now estimated to cost taxpayers more than $67 million, which includes the cost of printing and mailing the special ballots in three languages plus English along with manpower costs.

"Hey, it'll be money well-spent," Stanley said.

Sixteen-year Willow Glen resident Lorrie Banks couldn't disagree more.

"I think it's sinful to spend that much money on something so frivolous," she said.

Nevertheless, a special election date has been set, and some in Willow Glen can't wait to either save Davis or get rid of him.

"To replace Davis, I'll take anybody at this point," said Stanley, who signed the recall petition. "It's not something I'm excited about, but it needed to be done."

"I might have signed the petition," said Paul Swan, who works on Lincoln Avenue, "but I don't think it's that cut and dry."

He, as well as several others in Willow Glen, believe that the state's budget problems and other woes can't be pinned solely on Davis.

"Davis may have fallen short of his responsibilities, but I don't think he can be faulted. I felt his style of management is too exclusionary," Swan said.

It also may be why Davis is wallowing in the mid-20s voter approval range. Some people in Willow Glen believe he could boost his ratings if he were more upfront about his performance.

If Davis were to make more public appearances, it might help Andy Ceperley said.

"Davis hasn't been in the public light enough, and I'd like to see him more in the newspapers and on television addressing the recall," said Ceperley, a Willow Glen resident. "I feel he's gone underground and behind the scenes."

Lindsey Meyer says she reluctantly voted Davis in for a second term as the lesser of two evils because she didn't want Bill Simon to win.

Simon is one of several Republicans who's taken out papers and is stating his intent to run. He and other candidates have until Aug. 9 to get their names on the ballot.

One Simon supporter, Lynn Kelly, who's lived in Willow Glen for 23 years, said he will vote not to recall Davis. Kelly said even if Simon was on the ballot he would not vote for him again because he opposes the recall.

Several residents, including Kelly, have made it clear that they can't stand Davis, either because of his performance in handling the budget or his seemingly cavalier attitude toward the whole situation. But they're not upset enough to vote him out of office.

"I don't like Davis, and he didn't get my vote in the last two elections," Kelly said, "but unless he's done something really dastardly, he should finish out his term."

David Douthit reluctantly agrees.

"Do I think Davis is an idiot and squandered our money? Yes, I do!" he said.

"The opportunity to get rid of someone you don't like is very enticing," he said, "but we had our chance in the last general election to get rid of him and a recall isn't the way."

So far in the history of the state, there've been 31 attempts to recall governors and they have all failed. With such a poor success rate, maybe the recall option itself should be recalled, said Jeremey Burns of Willow Glen.

"If you're going to blame a politician for doing a bad job, then vote him out in a general election," Burns said. "Don't do it in a special election."

The high price tag of a special election is reason enough to not have one, said Liat Baranoff.

"It makes no sense to spend millions on a special election when we just had a general election," she said. "Especially when this special election is based on needing less than a million signatures for a state this size."

But Stanley doesn't see it that way.

"Why are people complaining about spending $35 million in a special election," Stanley said, "when the Democrats have been spending our money all along?"

Maureen Spitz, however, is willing to give Democrats another chance. She'd vote not to recall Davis unless a stronger Democrat appears on the ballot.

"I think part of the problem California has is due to the federal government," Spitz said, "not just Davis alone."

Others, like Sara Garcia, would hold Davis in higher esteem if he put the state before himself.

"He hasn't made California his top priority," the 19-year Willow Glen resident said, "only his personal political agenda."

She hasn't decided on whether she'll vote.

"I might change my mind if he were to come forward and explain the choices he's made," Garcia said.

The recall campaign, picked up steam in March, and gathered about 1.5 million signatures before the Sept. 3 deadline. The special election is scheduled for Oct. 7.