Arizona: Lobbying money is on Pearce

Here

Oregon: Silverton City Council recall

A former Mayoral resident claims to be 75% of the way to recalling four city council members. The reason cited is complaints about municipal spending.

Wisconsin: Sheboygan organizers claim enough signatures for mayoral recall

Recall organizers are claiming that they have 4,500 signatures, 400 more than needed for the recall of Mayor Bob Ryan.

Massachusetts: New attempt on Bridgewater recalls

New recall petitions are being taken out against two Bridgewater Town Councilors after the original petitions were rejected because "they did not include the words that they were signed “under the penalties of perjury.”

No decision whether the recall law is actually not enforce, as the Town Councilors argued, because it was written before the Town Council existed and includes the defunct Board of Selectmen.

Michigan: View of the Paul Scott recall

Here

Ohio: Tallmadage charter vote looks to limit recall petitioners to city residents

City Charter amendment in Tallmadage will limit petitioners to city residents or, if it is a district-based recall, just residents from that district.

* ISSUE 58. Shall Section 17.02 of the Charter be amended to provide that each individual circulating a recall petition shall be an elector of the City or the single ward, as appropriate?

This amendment requires the circulator of a recall petition to be an elector of the city or a single ward. The change basically prevents someone outside the city from circulating a petition.

Massachusetts: Signs posted announcing upcoming recall campaign in Templeton

No petitions have been taken out, but like an earlier trailer to a movie, signs are popping up saying a recall is coming in Templeton. No word on the stars, but the early focus is a trio of selectmen. According to the report, the selectmen voted for a few changes:

The changes include hiring three new law firms to replace the town counsel, Kopelman & Paige of Boston, and eliminating long-term town employees or “cost-effective vendors” without cause — a thinly veiled reference to the firing of Mrs. Skelton and the change of law firms. The website also questions why some meetings are run differently from others, why only three members of the Board of Selectmen are given important information and whether other people’s jobs are at risk in town.

Mrs. Skelton was fired at the end of a contentious meeting on Oct. 11, with Mrs. Farrell and Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Bennett voting in favor of the firing and Selectmen Robert Columbus and Christopher Stewart opposed. 

Wisconsin: Daily Kos on proposed notarization requirements for petitions

The Daily Kos' David Nir highlights, and heavily criticizes, a key point in the latest bill designed to revise the recall process. The bill would require notarization of the petitions, which is on top of the fact that it already requires certification.

As I've mentioned before, the Brooklynite in me is never surprised with attempts by sitting officials to prevent other from getting on the ballot. The ratcheting up of ballot requirements always has to be seen as part of an "incumbent protection plan." In this case, as Nir points out, it does appear to be a Republican v. Democrat issue. But the long term view of it should disturb some of the more ballot-issue friendly Republicans. Those rules can and will be used against opponents of whoever is in office, be it a Democrat, Republican or other.

This actually will only be slight nuisance to the Democrat/union efforts to get a recall of Walker or other Republican officials on the ballot. The Democrats and unions are well versed in election law, and will easily be able to get all their ducks in a row. Instead, it will serve as a barrier for the fully volunteer local efforts at recalls.

Mexico: Complaints that political reform lacks a recall

The Chamber of Deputies in Mexico are hearing complaints that they're political reform proposal lacks a recall. Here's some coverage of the original PRD proposal.

Oregon: Oregon City Commissioner recall makes the ballot

Follow-up from here, the Oregon City Commissioner Jim Nicita will face the voters, as the signatures were deemed to have met the standard.

Oregon: Josephine Election Commission reports enough signatures to recall County Commissioner

No word on date, but looks like recall will get on the ballot.

Arizona: Fundraising and spending totals reported in Pearce recalls

Here

Oregon: Two elections could confuse Forest Grove recall

Two separate ballots were sent out to Forest Grove residents -- one for the Forest Grove school board recall, the other for the Congressional special election. There are concerns that people will be confused.

Minnesota: Bemidji Charter Commission overturns City Council push against recall

Interesting result here. The City Council disapproved of a recall with a 1-5 vote, but the Charter Commission overturned their vote and have sent it along for voters to vote on in Nov. 2012.

The amendment, if approved, would give voters the ability to recall an elected city councilor for malfeasance or nonfeasance while in office.
Five registered voters from one ward (or city, if the recall is aimed at an at-large representative) could come together for the purpose of recalling their councilor. They would draft a 250-word-or-fewer statement to that effect and file it with the city.
They then would need to begin gathering signatures from that ward’s residents in support of the petition. The number of needed signatures would be 20 percent of the number of people who voted in that ward in the last election.
If that occurs, an election would be called; all the voters in that ward would then vote on whether that councilor should be recalled.

Ohio: Piqua looks into reforming recall

Following a failed attempt last year to recall four city commissioners, Piqua is looking to revamp its recall process. Among the proposed amendments are:

• Section 120 states that a voter in the ward associated with the member they wish to recall must file with the city clerk an affidavit that includes any allegations of inefficiency; neglect of duty; malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in office; incapacity; and incompetence.
• Section 121 covers the filing of the recall petition that must be delivered to the city clerk within 30 days after filing of the affidavit and must include 2,000 registered voter signatures instead of the 1,000 current requirement.
• Section 122 amendment would define when commission can set an election date after notification of the clerk that a date needs to be set.
• Section 125 deals with the results of the recall election that should there be no candidate on the ballot the planning commission has the authority to fill the position by a majority vote.
•Section 127 would restrict a recall petition from being filed against a commission member until six months, instead of the current three, after taking office and likewise, should they be recalled and not removed, another six months after the election.
On the ballot, charter amendment will appear separately and read as a question. Meaning, a "yes" vote on each proposed charter amendment means a voter is in favor of the charter change.
...Under the new recall proposal a recall petition needs 2,000 signatures instead of 1,000. 

Wisconsin: Sheboygan mayor recall petitions coming down to the wire

The campaign to recall Sheboygan Mayor Bob Ryan is coming down to the wire, with proponents still needing hundreds of signatures to get on the ballot.

Nebraska: York County recall qualifies for the ballot

The recall of the controversial York County attorney Bill Sutter, which was started by two city commissioners, will be headed to the ballot boxes. The County Clerk verified 1,500 signatures, 300 more than needed.

Michigan: Supreme Court turns back Scott challenge

Paul Scott's attempt to delay the recall until February failed -- the Supreme Court rejected the challenge and it will now take place on November 8.

Wisconsin: Governor Walker grabs lead in recall poll

The latest poll has 48% in favor of a Walker recall, and 49% opposed.

Michigan: Paul Scott looks to get recall pushed off to February Primary

A move to February, the same day as the Republican Presidential Primary, would greatly benefit Scott.

In other news, the pro-recall committee announced that it has raised $121K

Texas: Jasper recall challenge thrown out

Recall will be held on November 8. The Judge called the charter a "poorly written instrument," and, in a nod the plaintiffs complaint, criticized the fact that anyone in the city could sign a petition to recall a councilmember. 

"Common sense," he wrote, "suggests that the ability to recall a single-member-district's representative should be restricted to only those voters with the authority to vote in the recall election itself."

Tennessee: Defamation suit thrown out from 2009 Nashville recall

Here. According to the news reports: Pam Murray lost a recall election against Jamie Hollin for the District 5 Council seat back in 2009 by just two votes.

One year after her ouster, she sued Hollin and several of her former constituents for defamation. A judge ruled Monday that the statements made against Murray were protected by free speech. Hollin's lawyer says the lawsuit was bigger than the plaintiff and defendants.

Murray apparently held a job in Michigan while serving on the Council.

California: Attempt to recall Oakland mayor begins

It would be the first recall of a mayor in Oakland's history. The article notes that the supporters have less than 1/3 of 1% of the needed signatures collected, but that seems unfair, as they haven't actually gotten to the petition stage.

Florida: Court kills Haines City recall

The Haines City Commissioners recall was killed by a court decision, which held that the recall proposal did not meet the malfeasance standard.

Maine: Bowdoinham considering adopting recall

The town of Bowdoinham is scheduled to vote on a recall in November. Here's the details:

The four-page ordinance to be discussed during public hearing Tuesday contains 10 sections titled establishment, applicability, grounds for recall, petition for recall, clerk’s certification, calling the recall election, ballots for recall election, result of election, recall election called by vote of the board of selectmen, and filling vacancy.

As worded, the ordinance allows recall of an elected official for failure to appropriately carry out the duties and responsibilities of the office; engaging in conduct which brings the office into disrepute; engaging in conduct which displays an unfitness to hold the office; or for the indictment for a felony or conviction of any crime under the laws of the state of Maine or of the United States.

As proposed, a recall petition must contain signatures of registered Bowdoinham voters equal to or greater than 15 percent of the number of Bowdoinham votes cast in the last gubernatorial election but never less than 100. The petition must be addressed to the members of the Board of Selectmen who are not subjects of the petition — or to the town clerk if all selectmen are subjects of the recall

A separate petition must be submitted for each official being sought for removal. A petition for recall must state the name and office of the person the petition aims to recall, and include a statement of the specific reasons consistent with the grounds for recall section “and include specific examples of conduct which justifies recall.”

All signatures on the petition must be signed within 60 days of the petition being filed with the town clerk. A selectman may not be the subject of a recall petition or recall election during the first or last 100 days of his or her term.

The ordinance contains time restraints for a determination of sufficiency by the town clerk, and then for selectmen to order a secret ballot recall election.

Recall elections must be scheduled in a way that prevents any possibility of less than three sitting members on what will be a five-member Board of Selectmen after Nov. 8 — even if this requires multiple recall elections on different dates.

According to the proposed ordinance language, the person who has been the subject of a failed recount election may not be the subject of a recall petition or recall election for one year following the failed recall election. Nor can a person who has been recalled from office be a candidate for the Board of Selectmen for at least one year after the date of the recall election.

This ordinance contains provisions under which the Board of Selectmen by majority vote can call for a recall election of a board member. Those provisions include if the member has been absent from board meetings in the previous 90 days; has been absent from at least half of the board meetings in the previous six months; has been indicted for a felony as defined by state and federal law; or has been convicted of any crime as defined by state or federal law.

Texas: El Paso recall goes to the courts

Here's coverage

Michigan: Hearing scheduled for recall language on petition against Wayne County Executive

Here. Issue is a severance payment for top appointee

Colorado: Recall for one Montrose County Commissioner fails

Here

Michigan: Recall language approved for local prosecutor

Recall petitions were approved for Kalkaska prosecutor, though petitions were rejected for three commissioners.

Michigan: State Supreme Court rules Paul Scott recall is back on

Looks like we will hit 11 for the year. After much numerous court decisions, the state Supreme Court looks like it will have the final word, declaring the Scott recall back on.

Wisconsin: Former Appropriations Chair would run for Gov in recall

David Obey, the long-time Wisconsin Congressman and former Chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, has said he would run against Gov. Scott Walker in a recall if other well-known Democrats (retiring U.S. Senator Kohl, Milwaukee Mayor, and former Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Barrett) don't run.

Campaigns & Elections article on the recall boom

Here's a piece I wrote for Campaigns & Elections

Missouri: Recall effort against City Councilman fails

The recall effort against City Councilman Darryl Dudley, launched because of his position on reapportionment, fell 691 signatures short of success.

Wisconsin: Senators facing recalls will have to run in elected districts, not newly redrawn ones

GAB answers an interesting question -- since there was a redistricting, would a senator (or assembly rep) get to run in the old district or in a newly created one? The answer is the old district, which seems like the right answer.

Massachusetts: Dartmouth adopts recall

The town of Dartmouth adopted the recall for local officers.

Town Meeting approved a recall provision, but established strict standards to do so. The recall process first requires 2,000 registered voters’ signatures for an affidavit, then the signatures of 20 percent of the registered voters in Dartmouth within a 20-day period to trigger a recall election. Finally, a requirement for a 20 percent turnout for the recall election to be valid.

John P. Haran, a member of the Planning Board and the Charter Commission, offered an amendment that changed the number of registered voters to 2,000 from 200 but lowered the voter turnout to 20 percent from 35 percent.
It marks the first time Dartmouth has had a mechanism to recall an elected official.

North Dakota: Valley City Recall gets on the ballot

The recall, against the mayor and city commissioner, will be held in January.

India: More on the Right to Recall debate

Here and here

Germany: Duisburg Mayor faces recall

Voters in Duisburg, Germany have handed in 80,000 signatures calling for the recall of the mayor, Adolf Sauerland. The mayor presided over a the Love Parade tragedy in 2010, when partygoers were stuck in a tunnel that was the only entrance and exit to the Love Parade. Panic ensued and 21 people died.

25% of voters must vote in the recall for the mayor to be kicked out.

Wisconsin: New bill proposed to change recall petitioning

The bill would increase disclosure requirement for petitioners, requiring them to present ID and let people if they've been paid, and by whom, for the signature collection efforts. It would also require notarization of signatures. Most notably, it would apparently limit recall signatures to people who voted in the last election for that office.
In the past, we've seen that tightening the signature requirements is a popular place for recall reform efforts.

Michigan: Bloomfield School Board recall continues to seek signatures

Bloomfield School Board recall petitioners are looking to extend their time for the recall, as the original 90 day limit has run out. I'm not sure how they can do that, unless they are starting a new petition drive.

Massachusetts: Editorial against Attleboro recall

Here

Non-recall article on the Presidential Primary system

I wrote this for The Daily.

Michigan: Lawsuits challenge Democratic State legislative recall langauge

Here

Wisconsin: The issues from a Walker recall

Craig Gilbert from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel provides some analysis.

Michigan: Taylor mayoral recall leads to questions

With the Taylor, Michigan recall set for November 8, there are real questions of what will happen if the mayor is removed. State law calls for a special election, but the city charter says that the council should appoint a new mayor.

Tennessee: Lebanon City recall rejected because of a typo

The Lebanon City Council recall had to be refiled because the petition backers incorrectly typed the Tennessee code number. If it gets on the ballot, the earliest the recall would be held is August.

Michigan: Recall for Clerk and Supervisor in Redding Township scheduled for February

Here's the details. Claim has been that they violated an open meeting act.

Texas: El Paso courts handling issue of circulating petitions in church

Attorneys for the recall proponents appear to concede that they circulated petitions in churches, but claim the law is unconstitutional.

Alaska: Division of Elections quashes State Rep recall

An attempt to recall State Rep. Kyle Johansen was quashed by the Division of Elections, due to not meeting the required definitions "incompetence" or "neglect of duty." Alaska is one of the "judicial recall" states which does not allow recall for basically any reason. The recall backers claimed that Johansen's leaving the Majority Leader post (he resigned from the majority caucus over the failure to give a Finance Committee seat to a different Rep) was the equivalent to incompetence, a position the division rejected.

The article is well worth a read for anyone interested in Alaska state recalls. It notes that this is the fourth recall attempt against a state legislator, one of which was shot down by the courts. Two others resulted in resignations.

Wisconsin: More debate on the LG Governor question

More questions on what a recall of Governor Walker would mean for the Lieutenant Governor here.

Michigan: Court halts State Rep. Paul Scott recall

The State Rep. Paul Scott recall has been temporarily enjoined. His winning argument seems to be that the recall organizers started collecting signatures too early in the process. Ballots have already been sent out. If it is postpone (to February), it would be a great benefit to Scott -- the recall would take place on the same day as the presidential primary.

Despite the fact that the state has plenty of experience with the recall, there seems to be a serious legal issues with getting recalls (At least on the state level) off the ground.

Oregon: Oregon City Commissioner recall petitions handed in

The campaign to recall Oregon City Commissioner Jim Nicita has turned in over 2200 signatures, which appears to be enough to qualify for the ballot. Nicita has been accused of being "anti-business," which seems to reference his position on a mall development project. The recall would be held in 35 days,

Massachusetts: Bridgewater recall date may be set soon

Though there doesn't seem to be a final ruling on the legality of the Bridgewater recall, the recall against two town councillors may be set soon.

Flordia: Haines City Manager may have been mistakenly overpaid $50K

The Haines City City Manager, whose resignation agreement is the basis of a a recall campaign against two city commissioners, may have been overpaid close to $50K in her separation agreement. The details were revealed in the circuit court case which two city commissioners are challenging the recall.

Wisconsin: Campaign Finance law would allow Gov. Walker unlimited donations in recall

As we've mentioned before, donors to Governor Walker (and his opponents) would have no limits on the amount of campaign finance funds they can contribute to any candidate.

California's recall hits 100

This week marks the 100th Anniversary of the the vote to enact the Recall (and Initiative and Referendum). May I suggest perusing the LA Times critical coverage of direct democracy, which they called "freak legislation" and "mobocracy." Worth noting that Women's sufferage was first thought to have gone down in defeat that day, but prevailed by 2%. The recall actually did very well -- I believe it came in second among the many different ballot propositions (ahead of the Initiative).

Michigan: New hearing set in the Paul Scott recall

Here

Massachusetts: Group trying second attempt at Lawrence Mayor recall

After failing to qualify the first time around, a group is trying another recall attempt against Lawrence Mayor William Latingua, with a goal of gathering signatures on Election Day. Here's some details about the reasons for the recall.

Nebraska: Petitions to be handed in against York County Attorney

Looks like the recall proponents against the York County Attorney will have enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. This is based on inappropriate comments and actions by the county attorney.

Missouri: Reapportionment leads to recall threat

Columbia City Councilman Daryl Dudley is facing a recall campaign due to his proposing a different reapportionment map for the city council. Recall proponents charge that the City Councilman is negatively impacting the district and proposing a gerrymandered map. Dudley won office with 36% of the vote ina four way race, so can't be too surprised that he is trying to make the district more to his liking.

Texas: Jasper Mayor fights recall charges

Jasper Mayor is fighting back against the recall. I was just asked about religious-led recalls (following up from El Paso) -- note that the recall is led by a pastor.

Wisconsin: Democrats announces plans for Gov. Walker recall

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin has announced plans for an effort to recall Governor Scott Walker. The earliest petitions can be handed in is Jan. 3, 2012 (one year after Walker was sworn in). They would need over 540,000 signatures. There have only been two gubernatorial recall to ever get on the ballot (North Dakota's Lynn Frazier in 1921, California's Gray Davis in 2003), and both succeeded in removing the official.  One other recall, Arizona's Evan Meacham in 1988, did qualify for the ballot, but Meacham was impeached and convicted before the vote). A couple of basic points below:

Wisconsin's recall law is quite strict, and poses a much higher hurdle than California's did in 2003. Here's a link for some details.

There is still no decision on whether the recall of the Governor would also result in the removal of the Lieutenant Governor. New Jersey had the same question. As the second link notes, it is a strange legal issue.

One obvious question is whether there will be a positive impact from the fact that it is the Democratic Party itself that is backing the recall. As I've mentioned before, I believe there is a serious negative to having the recall tied to a specific interest group (like labor unions). But the same negative does not exist for recalls tied to a party.


The second question is whether a Walker recall may have a damaging impact on Obama's 2012 presidential prospects in the state. The question is timing:


There are three time periods when you can have the recall. One is as special election (which is anytime), the second is on the same day as a primary, and the third is on the same day as a general election.

The problem with a special election is that it costs a lot of money to hold (Gray Davis’ recall cost the state somewhere in the neighborhood of $66 million and that was without a primary vote). As I've mentioned before, The cost of the recall is generally not a great defense for a sitting official. Sometimes it works, but frequently it fails. However, if Walker survives, then the cost of the recall could become a great weapon for the Republicans in November. It plays directly into their overarching theme of profligate Democrats.

Holding a recall on primary day could be a disaster, as the Republicans have a presidential campaign that day, and the Democrats do not. 

A general election would fit right into a presidential race, and it would end up being almost a standard gubernatorial race, but one where the Democrats have a built-in voter advantage (the party has won the state in every presidential race since 1984). However, the Republicans are well aware of the negative consequences of holding a recall on Election Day. As this AP story notes (I spoke with the reporter, but my comments weren't included), you can be certain they would do everything in their power to prevent it. It is not too hard to do – look at the so-called fake Democratic primaries in the senatorial recalls. That pushed off the recall date by a month. It will be extremely difficult for the Democrats to time this recall properly.

Colorado: Recalls having an impact on getting school board candidates

Article notes problems attracting board members, though in some districts, there are an abundance of candidates.

Michigan: State Senate Minority Leader and State Rep in the cross-hairs

Here

Michigan: Language approved for recall against three Democratic legislators

Vote was 2-1, more here. We'll have to look at all of these language rejections and approvals at a later date. The recalls may be timed to take place during the Republican presidential primary, which would undoubtedly drive up Republican turnout. Since Michigan is holding a closed presidential primary, there is no potential problems for the Republicans.

Washington: Cowlitz County Sheriff recall at hearing stage

Longshore union have backed a recall against the sheriff for his overly aggressive actions in union protests. Court is deciding whether the recall should go forward.

Michigan: Complaints about the shooting down of the State Senator Paul Pavlov recall

Michigan seems to have a much stricter standard to accept recall language than other "political recall" states. Here's some complaints.

Michigan: More on the Court of Appeals ruling delaying the Paul Scott recall

Still don't see the point made by the Court of Appeals, but here's some extra analysis.

Arizona: NYT on the Cortes debate

Here

Texas: Jasper recall hearings

Here

Arizona: "Sham Candidate" Olivia Cortes drops out

Facing further court hearings, Olivia Cortes dropped out of the race for the Russell Pearce Senate seat. However, her name is set to remain on the all-ready printed up ballots (there will be a note that she withdrew).

Michigan: Recall language against State Senator fails a second time

Here

Wisconsin: GAB pulls back from allowing online petitions

After criticism from the Republican Party, the GAB has pulled back from allowing online petitions to be individually printed out and mailed in, which as we've noted before, could radically expand the use of the recall. 

The policy still would allow petition circulators to distribute petition forms online and pre-fill out the forms with the names of the voters' municipalities, effectively maintaining current policy, Kennedy wrote. Because of the change, GOP lawmakers said they would not trigger a rule-making process that could further involve them and Walker.

Texas: Killeen City Council recall may prevent City operating

Five members of the council are up for recall. If four of them lose, the city council will not be legally allowed to conduct meetings.

Michigan: Court of Appeals halts State Rep. Paul Scott recall

A divided court of appeals halted the Scott recall, and threw the case back to the lower court. (Here's a copy of the order). Scott is claiming that the recall language is vague (an argument that the Michigan courts seem to accept on a regular basis). The absentee ballots are already out there.

Nebraska: Chadron City Council choosing replacements

Here. Turnout was 33%

Florida: Haines City recall goes to the courts

Here

Texas: El Paso appeal denied, request to Governor to hold a special election

The mayor's appeal was denied. The City is also asking the Governor to allow them to hold a special election to hold down cost. However, this is not likely to be approved. Here's some detail from the El Paso Times:

The county election office, which usually conducts city elections on a contract, will be tied up conducting the 2012 primary election. So the city must lease machines and conduct its own election at a cost that may run from $300,000 to $900,000 instead of the $150,000 to $180,000 that elections cost when the county handles them.
City officials will ask Perry to allow an emergency election at a time when the county is able to conduct it. But Municipal Clerk Richarda Momsen said the Secretary of State's office said the governor only grants such elections rarely, and then almost always because of natural disasters such as hurricanes.

Oregon: Forest Grove school board recall set for Nov. 1

Here

Nebraska: Chadron Mayor and City Council member removed

The Mayor of Chadron and a City Council member were recalled in yesterday's vote. The mayor lost 690-474. Here's some earlier details about the recall.

Wisconsin: Ashland Mayor retains seat

Garnering a hair over 50% of the vote (against four opponents) Bill Whalen survived the recall in Ashland.

Tennessee: Lebanon City Council member under threat of recall

Here

Maryland: Editorial against adoption of the recall in Ocean City

Here

Oregon: Petitioners claim they have the needed signatures for Josephine County Commissioner

Issue is that the commissioner behaves in unprofessional or harassing manner. Backers have 5,000 signatures and are hoping for another 1,000.

Texas: El Paso recall costs may hit $300-900K

El Paso's county Election Administrator is saying that the mayoral recall could cost between $300,000 to $900,000. Since the city has a law mandating that the recall be held on the same date as a primary or general election (which would seem to be done largely to cut down on the cost), this seems strange, but according to the officials:

But because Chacon can't use county staff and equipment to conduct a city recall election, the city will have to lease voting machines, program them and run the election itself. 

California: Shasta Lake City Council petitions circulating

Following-up on the Shasta Lake recall, here's an article noting that the town's low voter turnout could be a problem with the proposed recall. I'm not sure why it is any different than any regular election. The jurisdiction requires 25% of registered voter signatures (Rather than a percentage of voter turnout), I don't see their argument.

Wisconsin: Ashland recall set for tomorrow

Five candidates are in the race.

Arizona: Cortes stays on the ballot

The "sham candidate" survives the first court challenge. Here are some key comments from the Judge:

Burke said without the support of Pearce supporters, Cortes would have had no chance of qualifying as a candidate or running any sort of political campaign, but reiterated that the court found no wrongdoing by Cortes herself. He said the courts should not, in most cases, be the final arbiter of the motives political candidates have for running for election.

"Divining candidates' motives and acting on them is more properly the role of the voters," Burke said. "Plaintiff's remedy is through the ballot box and not the courts."

He said the fact that many petition gatherers honestly told signers that signing Cortes' petition would help Pearce makes it additionally difficult for him to find fraud.

Wisconsin: Gov's Chief of Staff steps down to start recall defense

Here

Arizona: San Luis recall moving forward

Petitions handed in, and county clerk making a final verification ruling

Texas: El Paso recall fight + Citizens United decision

A look at one of the big legal questions out of El Paso

UK: Conservative MP's criticism of proposed recall law

The recall proposal would not give the power to remove to the voters, but instead give it to a House of Commons committee.

Minnesota: Bemidji City Council considers recall law

Here

Nevada: North Las Vegas history of recalling Mayors

Following-up on the attempt to recall North Las Vegas's mayor, here's a story detailing the last recall in North Las Vegas, in 1976, in which the mayor and two city council members were removed. Situation also involved layoffs.

Alaska: Recall against Wasilla City Councilman moves to petition gathering

After some hold-ups, the recall attempt against City Councilman Steve Menard has moved to the petition gathering stage (needs 201 signatures). No answer on the question of whether people outside of the district can validly sign the petition.

Texas: NYT/Texas Tribune on El Paso recall

Article provides more background on the issue fight, though it doesn't have the twists and turns that have made this one fascinating.