NEVADA CITY – Citing a lack of valid signatures, Rough and Ready resident Calvin Clark announced Monday he’s dropping a campaign to recall Nevada County 4th District Supervisor Elizabeth Martin.

“After a careful count of the valid signatures on the signed petitions, we came very close, but just fell short of reaching our goal,” Clark declared in a prepared statement.

Clark began collecting signatures four months ago and had until Monday to garner the 2,374 names necessary to force a recall election in Martin’s Fourth District.

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Clark didn’t specify how many signatures were collected or how many names the effort was short.

Clark said a week ago that he believed he had enough signatures to force a recall election and planned to file the petition with the county Clerk-Recorder’s Office Monday afternoon.

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Clark’s recall effort was prompted by Martin’s support of Natural Heritage 2020, the county’s long-term planning program aimed at managing and protecting open-space resources and natural habitats, and dealing with growth over the next 20 years.

Though the recall campaign against Martin is over, the NH 2020 dispute continues, with claims by property owners that the program would add a layer of bureaucracy and restrictions on land use.

Protect Your Property Rights’ founder Drew Bedwell is spearheading an effort to place an initiative on the March 2002 ballot that opposes implementation of any rules, regulations and ordinances related to NH 2020.

“Proponents of the recall are supportive of the initiative to stop NH 2020,” Clark said. “It’s necessary for this to go to a vote.”

Martin said she’s relieved the recall campaign is over, but not surprised that it failed.

“It’s a victory of common sense,” she said.

“I think the effort failed because it never raised any reason to recall me.”

Now that it’s over, Martin said she’ll focus on her family and farm and duties as supervisor, and healing the rift the recall has caused in District 4, which includes Penn Valley.

“I don’t want to close the door to those who signed the petition and have issues and concerns,” Martin said. “I’m still their supervisor.”