Who Will Be the Next Victim of the Grand Bounce? A nonpartisan, nonjudgmental look at the “Hair-Trigger” Form of Government
Pohlhammer came in to the Town Hall around 3 p.m. on June 19, and refused to sign the affidavit, the criminal complaint states. Then, he allegedly ripped up the three signatures that he had supposedly collected.
Purifoy and McMahan have a history of personal issues against each other, which has been documented in council meetings, campaign material and in Courier stories. Shortly after her arrest on Sept. 11, 2010 — for resisting arrest, filing a false police report, failure to obey police commands, obstructing government operations and disorderly conduct — Purifoy had a letter appear in the Letter To the Editor section of the Courier (Oct. 25, 2010). In that missive, she wrote, "Johnny McMahan and (Alderman) Allison Cain were swift to judge me before checking out all the facts regarding this case. I cringe knowing that is the type of leadership they want to bring to Bauxite. As for those two, who claim to be Christians, they show a poor example of the lifestyle. Apparently you weren’t aware I have family and friends in town when you all went out campaigning."On Nov. 2, 2010, McMahan won office in Nov 2010. Three aldermen attempted multiple times (some using very questionable tactics) to appoint Purifoy to the vacant position of court clerk/recorder/treasurer position. McMahan mailed Bauxite residents a postcard with Purifoy's arrest mug shot plastered on it.
"The gloves are coming off and I'm putting on my Wonder Woman underwear," she said.When McMahan started as mayor he found unopened IRS letters in a closet that resulted in a $40,000 fine.
"I think (Purifoy) wants to close public doors on closets with possible skeletons inside and if she stops me, she can stop those skeletons from coming out," McMahan said. "Purifoy and her gang have schemed for a long time now to throw me out of office and get her power back and things can go back to the way it used to be. This might have something to do with the IRS issues. Maybe people are afraid this issue may (personally) touch them."
"How can you choose to recall someone from office when legal action is being taken?" said Wayne County Treasurer Raymond Wojtowicz. "I move we reject this for insufficient clarity."
state law allows federal elected officials to file statements with the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office pledging to resign if they lose a recall election, and McCain has filed such a statement.Despite that pledge, I wonder if Arizona will actually allow such a recall to get on the ballot.
The Legislature's chosen title was: "Photo identification required for voting." Ritchie, with the approval of the Attorney general, proposed this title: "Changes to in-person & absentee voting & voter registration; provisional ballots." He cited a state law which states that the Secretary of State shall determine the title of ballot questions
And Pearce trails in fundraising. He began the year with a campaign war chest of $35,555, but he reported raising only $2,822 through May 31. Meanwhile, Worsley raised over $67,000, which includes a $50,000 personal loan but also $17,445 in contributions.
By contrast, Pearce's recall election campaign, "Patriots for Pearce," raised and spent approximately $260,000, according to his final campaign-finance report.
Pohlhammer missed more meetings than any other supervisor she has known, including the annual and budget meetings.Interesting point that the recall contained 501 signatures, which was much larger than turnout in the election.
Non-registered voters was the major reason for the invalid signatures with 184 (39.4 %) in that category on the Grissom petition and 186 (41.7%) on the Dole petition. The second and third primary reasons for invalidation of the signers was because signatures did not match and they did not reside within the District 9 School District. For Grissom, those figures were 68 and 67 signatures and for Dole there were 57 out of the district and 44 with unmatched signatures.
Altogether there were 13 categories listed for the rejection of signatures.
Daniels said she is challenging 1,055 signatures because "we believe either the date was altered or the date was not put in by the petition signer." An additional 150 signatures are being challenged based on the person not being registered to vote.
“Each petition shall contain, in addition to the names of the petitioners, the street and house number in which the petitioner resides, his age and length of residence in the city,” read the charter.
“Also, each individual paper containing signatures must be signed and certified."Keyser was the city with a modified "loser pays" law for the recall. To me, it sounds like the requirement for ages and length of residency shows that the charter is not designed for democratic use of campaigns.
No Navajo president or chairman has been removed in a recall election, but some have left office early.
State Elections Code rules say if a school board doesn't issue an election order within an allowed time frame, the registrar of voters must do it within five days.The recall is estimated to cost $18,000 to $20,000. Apparently. logistical issues prevent combining the recall with the November general.
A letter signed by State Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald and Joint Finance Committee Co-Chair Robin Vos, among others, points to several reported problems in the recall for the 21st state Senate District. The issues include tampered-with ballot bags, unsigned poll books and a disregard for same-day registration requirements, they wrote.
The court upheld a new law lowering the threshold for removal to a majority of the votes cast, but added the turnout proviso, which could make for a close election.Also:
The recall vote is likely to be hard-fought. Mr. Ponta's left-leaning alliance scored a major victory in local elections in June. About 56% of registered voters cast ballots. Analysts said that if Mr. Basescu's supporters choose not to vote in the recall, turnout could drop below the 50% limit set by the court.
Mr. Basescu survived a previous impeachment in 2007 during his first term as president. After that, his supporters passed legislation in 2010 to make it harder to remove a president—requiring "yes" votes from more than 50% of registered voters for a recall. Mr. Ponta's government recently changed the law back, lowering the threshold to more than 50% of votes cast.
If local activists try to recall Lehman next summer, Phillips said Wanggaard "will not be taking a lead in that, but it's out there and he intends to run in the next election, whenever that may be."There are still issues of control of the Senate, as a Republican remains Senate President, which gives him authority over administrative decisions and when the Senate convenes. The Democrats think they can replace the president.
Johnson said there's a more recent example of how such a system would work: last year's recall of state Sen. President Russell Pearce.
Under state law, recall elections are open to all. That resulted in a race between Pearce and fellow Republican Jerry Lewis, with Lewis outpolling Pearce.
Johnson said that election between the two Republicans was affected by the fact that both had to appeal not only to Republicans but to Democrats and independents.
"Even Russell Pearce began campaigning on education and economic development,' Johnson said.
"They began to try to appeal to those centrist issues that are important to most people.'
Garcia, who has faced mounting criticism since her election to the board in 2010, characterized the petition as the latest salvo in a "war" Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren declared after Garcia and Green raised questions about how the city runs its afterschool program.
A recall election means another twist to the donation limits. With the recall election over, the limits are restarted and all these donors can give another $10,000 if they wish to the governor.Couple of other reported amounts:
Lt. Gov Rebecca Kleefisch raised $277,000 in the latest period, spent $185,000 and had $123,000 on hand.
Republican Sen. Van Wanggaard of Racine raised $78,000 in the final days before the June 5 recall elections. Wanggaard spent $181,745 in the final days in the election he lost to John Lehman, a Racine Democrat.
In the final days, Lehman raised $51,929 and spent $97,000.
The last time a campaign secured enough valid signatures in Oakland County was in 2003 against Pontiac Mayor Willie Payne, Rozell said. Voters chose not to recall him.
Under Berceau’s proposal, the threshold for having a recall vote on a law would be the same as it is now for statewide candidates — 25 percent of the total number of people who voted in the prior gubernatorial election would have to sign a recall petition.Also note:
With this proposal modeled after an Ohio law, Berceau said it would be cheaper for the state because the referendum could be added to the next scheduled election instead of the special elections usually required now.
Recall organizers have accused the members of financial mismanagement of the city. The three were all embroiled in sex scandals, with Hernandez admitting an affair with De La Torre, and Esqueda allegedly being involved with a married police sergeant.
Miller said the new council is comprised of Roberta Hamilton, Karla Champagne, Tracy Charles-Smith, Eric Rice and Julie Luke. Miller said Tracy Charles-Smith is Clyde's biological sister, though legally his aunt because they were adopted by different families. Meanwhile, Hamilton is Miller's niece and Champagne is the daughter of Ted Charles, Clyde's brother.
Miller and Charles have a history of bad blood between them. Miller was council president in 2006 before Ted Charles defeated him. He regained the position when Charles was removed from office. Ted Charles pleaded guilty in January to stealing nearly $25,000 in tribal funds and agreed to pay back $24,887, plus $3,990 in payroll advances.