It borders on cowardice, to be perfectly honest -- launching a recall drive against an elected official, and then refusing to identify the folks financing it.

Jerry Kern is certainly identified -- he's the Oceanside City Councilman who's being targeted. His name will be dragged through the mud in the weeks and months to come by those trying to get him off the council.

Now, I don't know Mr. Kern -- have never met him nor talked with him. Nor have I followed Oceanside city politics closely enough to know whether a recall is justified. (Although as he faces re-election next year, assuming he chooses to run again, it's hard to see how spending tens of thousands of dollars, if not more, of city money on a special election is a particularly wise move).

But fair is fair, and if you're going to attack someone, if you're going to try to put a special election on the ballot at taxpayer expense, then be adult about it and identify yourself. Or yourselves, as the case may be.

So far, we only know a few members of the recall committee seeking to oust Kern -- and they're not telling who's bankrolling the recall; at least, not until the law requires them to do so on April 30, when their campaign finance reports are due.

Recalls aren't inexpensive, either. Paid signature gatherers typically charge between $1 and $3 a signature, according to an article on the recall in Friday's paper.

And with 11,389 valid signatures from registered Oceanside voters needed to qualify the recall, we're looking at a minimum of some $11,000.

Oceanside voters have a basic right to know who's ponying up the cash before they sign the recall petition.

This shroud of secrecy is not only unfair in the extreme to Kern, who must endure having his reputation pummeled by foes he can't even respond to, but to voters as well. Putting a recall on the ballot is a serious issue. How can voters be asked to make an informed decision about the recall if they're not being given all the information about it? After all, Kern's performance in office is only part of the equation -- the motivation and identity of those seeking to oust him will also factor in to people's decisions on whether to sign the petiition.

Assuming they have that last bit of information.

There is still such a thing as honor. And if those who are putting up the money to circulate the recall petitions against Kern subscribe to such an old-fashioned concept, each of them will step forward and say to the voters (and Kern), "I'm donating this much money to the effort, and here's why."

If they can't muster up that base level of integrity, then it seems to me that the voters should turn down the request to put the recall on the ballot. Refuse to sign the petition until and unless those behind have publicly identified themselves.

Contact staff writer Jim Trageser at jtrageser@nctimes.com or (760) 740-5408.

Correction: Deadline misreported

This column contained an incorrect deadline for a political action committee's campaign finance statement. The committee that is seeking to recall Oceanside City Councilman Jerry Kern is required to file its next statement by April 30, according to the state Fair Political Practices Commisision.

We apologize.