North Carolina: Petitions handed in against Ronda Mayor, dispute as to whether town has recall provisions

A petition calling for the recall of Ronda Mayor Victor Varela was handed in. Petition alleged misconduct of "unprofessional behavior." Petition was signed by 76 people.

The petitioner claims that the recall attempt has nothing to do with the failure to appoint him as a commissioner or "the town’s consideration of a nuisance ordinance that would require him to remove his chickens from his property."

Ronda Charter from 1917 allows the recall, requiring signatures from 25 percent of turnout. There will be some issue here as the mayor argues that "a particular chapter or version for recalling elected officials was never chosen in 1920 when the charter was adopted."

Information from the N.C. School of Government provides a list of the following towns with recall capability, but Ronda is not on this list.

They are Aberdeen, Asheville, Cajah’s Mountain, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Durham, Foxfire, Greensboro, Hickory, Lewisville, Lumberton, Oak Island, Pinebluff, Pleasant Garden, Raleigh, Randleman, River Bend, Statesville, Troutman and Winston-Salem. Recall is also permitted for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board.  No counties have recall for their commissioners.