Canada: Alberta Wildrose Party members facing quasi-recall petitions

A giant party-jumping effort nine y members of the Wildrose Party to the Progressive Conservatives has led to call for recalls. Alberta doesn't have a recall law (only British Columbia has the law), but the Wildrose Party was a big prominent of adding just such a provision. Recall supporters are hoping to gather enough signatures to push for officials to feel obliged to resign and face a rerun.

Former Wildrose leader Danielle Smith is the big target, and the Alberta's Deputy Mayor Allan Hunter is pushing for a quasi-recall of MLA Rob Anderson, Hunter is trying to get 6,000 signatures in 3 months (20%). The Wildrose Party were big supporters of the recall, a position Anderson says he still holds.

Of particular interest is this fact:

Alberta briefly had recall provisions in 1936, but the Social Credit regime repealed the legislation a year after passing it when then Premier William Aberhart was threatened with the prospect of losing his seat.

Zimbabwe: Analysis of Zimbabwe's recall

Here

Hawaii: State Representative party flip leads to renewed calls for recall law

Republican State Representative Aaron Johanson, the House Minority Leader, switched to the Democrats (the Democrats have a 44-7 edge).  Mike Palcic, who works for the state's only Republican State Senator, is the leader of Citizens for Recall. Hawaii only has a recall for local offices, not state level.

Of note:

In 1985, the Democratic Party of Hawaii successfully launched recall elections against three members of the Honolulu City Council who switched from the Democratic Party to the GOP, to align themselves with the late Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi, who was then a Republican. The three councilmen - Toraki Matsumoto, Rudy Pacarro and George Akahane - were defeated in the recall elections by Democrats Donna Mercado Kim, Arnold Morgado and Randy Iwase.

California: NYT makes common error on Rose Bird "recall"

This article on Governor Jerry Brown's state Supreme Court appointments makes the common error that Rose Bird, Cruz Reynoso and Joseph Grodin were removed in a recall vote in 1986. They were not -- it was a mandatory retention election.

Massachusetts: Fall River recallers named "2014 newsmakers of the year" in newspaper poll

Here

Arizona: Glendale council recall fails over paid/volunteer designation

Once again, the failure to check a form stating whether petitioners were volunteers or paid gatherers seemed to have stopped the recall of Councilmember Gary Sherwood, petitioners needed 5,970 signatures. Sherwood claims that over 1,000 signatures were out of the district.

Colorado: Silverton Town Trustee facing February recall

Town Trustee Karla Safranski is up for a recall vote on February 10, though no one has stepped up to challenge her. Petitioners handed in 170 signatures against her. The issue is a push to fire the Public Works Director. 

Florida: Bradenton Beach Mayor facing petitions

Bradenton Beach Mayor William Shearon is facing petitions, led by a former city commissioner. There is already a resultion to have Shearon forfeit his office, led by the Vice Mayor. They need 100 signatures.

Since Miami-Dade had its famous recall in 2011, this fact is clearly not correct:

Removal of an elected official from office in Florida, via recall election, is rare. The removal of Anna Maria Commissioner Harry Stoltzfus in 2010 was the first-ever successful recall election in Manatee County and the first in the state since the 1970s, according to Bennett’s office.

Oklahoma: Choctaw Electric Cooperative Board facing a nine person recall

The entire nine member Choctaw Electric Cooperative board is facing a recall after an former general manger was accuse of embezzlement. They needed 1281 signatures (10%), they handed in more than 2600, and all but 342 were validated. In 1982, the entire nine-member board was recalled and removed.

The current board members are apparently able to run in a replacement race.

California: Salinas School Board trustee recall fails by 30 signatures; more than 700 invalidated

The recall of Salinas City Union Elementary School District trustee Janet Barnes failed by 30 signatures. Petitioners handed in over 3000 and needed 2291, but more than 700 were tossed out. There's some discussing on rechecking those invalidated ones. The issue was a removal of a principal. 

Colorado: KOTO Radio holding recall of three board members

KOTO Radio’s governing board, the San Miguel Education Fund, has sent ballot for the removal of board members Ray Farnsworth, Robert Allen and Joe McClure. The issue appears to be the departure of a longtime employee.

Nevada: GOP Executive Board threatens recalls for recalcitrant Assembly members

Nevada Republicans are having serious trouble since recapturing the Assembly for the first time since 1985. They have a big majority (25-17), but that is not stopping the concern that moderate caucus members will break off and join force with Democrats.The result is an executive board resolution threatening recalls for disobedient members. Nevada has a very difficult recall law, so that would be a hard push, but a state party is actually the most likely to get a recall on the ballot.

Colorado: Signatures verified for two Center School Board members

Center School Board members Phillip Varoz (438 verified/232 needed) and James Sanchez (423/163) are facing upcoming recalls after they requested the Superintendent resign.

Signatures are still being reviewed for two other board members, Barela (281) and Cendejas (109).

Nebraska: Minatare mayor up for recall on January 13

Minatare Mayor Alfred Pieper will face a January 13 recall after petitioners handed in 35% of total register voters signatures. The council would approve a replacement if Pieper is removed.

Idaho: Signatures verified against Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney

Jefferson County Prosecutor Robin Dunn is facing an upcoming recall. Petitioners handed in 3,582 signatures, of which 3246 were verified. They needed 2824. Dunn is accused of using county resources to bolster his private practice.

Michigan: Ann Arbor councilman facing three new petitions

Homeless advocates are still targeting Ann Arbor Councilman Stephen Kunselman. They have now handed in six petitions, three of which have been rejected on clarrity/factual grounds. They need 1859 signatures.

Arizona: Signatures handed in against casino approval-flipping Glenwood city councilman

Over 6,00 signatures have been handed in against City Councilman Gary Sherwood -- they need 2,752. Sherwood flipped on his support for a $400 million casino resort by the Tohono O'odham Nation.

Sherwood claims that his opponents are backed by other casinos, though that is disputed by the recall proponents.

Arizona: Golden Valley Fire District Board Director up for recall on May 19

The recall of Golden Valley Fire District Board Director Rhonda Brooks has been set for May 19. The recall was led by fellow director Steve Robinson. The article notes that they got exactly the right number. We'll have to see, but that means (as is frequently the case in Arizona) there were a lot of failed signatures -- they handed in 750 and needed only 483.

The board also addressed Brooks' refusal to turn over personal emails to friends that allegedly contain privileged executive session information. Allegations were made when information from executive sessions appeared in Facebook groups. 

The board has asked her for the emails on numerous occasions and is currently exploring legal action.

Michigan: New Buffalo Mayor slated for May 5th recall

Mayor Peter Weber will be facing the voters on May 5th over the firing of the city manager. Last year, two council members were kicked out in May.

Taiwan: Appendectomy Project targets three legislators

Petitions have been turned in by one of my new favorite names for a political movement "The Appendectomy Project." The Project handed in enough signatures for a recall of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Alex Tsai, though they are now being reviewed by the Central Election Commission. Petitioners need 13% to be handed in. They are also going after KMT legislators Wu Yu-sheng (37,469 signatures) and Lin Hong-chih (27.677).

The name Appendectomy Project was chosen because the term for pan-blue camp legislators in Mandarin Chinese, lan wei (藍委), is pronounced the same as the word for “appendix” (闌尾).
The project said it targeted the three KMT lawmakers because they adhered to President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) instructions rather than the public’s wishes

North Dakota: Oberon councilman facing recall over requests that voters "vote for him"

This one is amazing -- Oberon City Councilman Paul Stensland is facing a January 27th recall over claims that he violated state law by asking voters to vote for him (North Dakota does not require a showing of cause, so this may not have been in the official filing). Unfortunately, there is only one story about this, so I can't do to much verifying. But certainly one to monitor.

Petitioners only needed 17 signatures (the town has about 100 people).

Colorado: Colorado Springs Councilwoman facing petitions

Colorado Springs Councilwoman Helen Collins is facing petitions over claims that she doesn't engage in conversation with members of her district and her opposition to a stormwater proposal. The lead petitioner lost to Collins in the 2013 race. Petitioners need 1,485 signatures by January 8 to get a recall on the April 7th ballot.

Michigan: Benton Harbor mayoral recall fraudster sentences to 2 1/2 -10 years

Edward Pinkney, who was convicted of fraud in the failed Benton Harbor Mayoral recall was sentenced to 2 1/2 - 10 years for illegally changing names on a petition.

Massachusetts: Fall River Mayor ousted in recall

Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan lost his recall race, with about 69% of voters casting ballots to kick Flanagan out. The city had a two-step recall, and Flanagan was allowed to run in the replacement race. However, he came in second of the eight candidates. Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter got about 37%, and Flanagan got 27%.

Arizona: South Tuscon Mayoral recall set for May 19

South Tucson City Council Mayor Paul Diaz is facing a recall on May 19. The recall was put off after a councilman objected to a date of August 25. The councilman, Ildefonso Green, is facing a recall petition and the claim was that if his recall gets on the ballot, they would schedule both recalls on the same date.

California: Three Indian Valley Community Service members resign

Indian Valley Community Services District board members Mike Yost, Blake Shelters and Jane Braxton Little all resigned their seats, with Yost and Little facing recall votes. One additional member, Brad Smith, is facing a recall on March 24.

Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians leaders ousted

Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians chairman Fred Kiogima and vice chair Deb De Leon, lost a recall vote on November 17 over their leadership styles. The vote was 379-325 to kick out Kiogima and 384-315 against De Leon, with a 41.5% turnout. Regina Gasco-Bentley is the interim replacement.

Arizona: Columnist claims low-info voters pushing Superintendent recall

Here

Michigan: Ann Arbor City Council member facing recall over homeless evictions

Ann Arbor City Council Member Stephen Kunselman is facing recall threats over his call to evict a homeless encampment. Petitioners need 1,859 signatures within 60 days.

New Zealand: Secret Rooms lead to calls for adding recall laws

Auckland Council spent $30,000 on "secret rooms" including a dressing room hidden behind a bookcase in the Auckland mayor's new office. 

Michigan: New petitions filed against Howell School Board

Petitions are being filed against Howell Public Schools Board of Education members  Deborah McCormick, Michael Moloney, Stacy Pasini and Mike Yenshaw over their vote to fire the Superintendent. The original petition was rejected on clarity grounds.

Massachusetts: Fall River Mayor's spending detailed

Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan has raised $165,000, and spent all but $16,800. $32,000 of that money has been raised since the recall was announced in August.

He paid $32,500 to his recall attorney, Preston Halperin and $2,500 to hire a handwriting expert,

Louisiana: Gonzales Councilman ousted

Gonzales Councilman Timothy Vessel was ousted with 75% against. This followed Councilman Gary Lacombe's resignation in the face of a recall. The recall was over their voting in a bloc and seeming opposition to the mayor. He was accused of a number of small violations (riding a bike with campaign signs on it too close to polling stations; plugging in an extension cord to a vacant trailer).

Missouri: Signatures handed in against Columbia Councilwoman recall over Marijuana vote flip

Petitions have been turned in to recall Councilwoman Ginny Chadwick. Petitioners handed in 451 signatures, they need 249. If they fail, they get 14 more days to collect. The issue was Chadwick's opposition to decriminalization of marijuana after previously supporting it.

Georgia: Warwick Council recall over open meeting law violation tossed out

An attempt to recall Warwick City Councilman Donald Watson over a violation of open meeting law was rejected by a judge as not meeting the cause requirement. Of note:

The court found that meeting constituted a technical violation of the act, but that Watson did not intend to willfully and intentionally violate the act, thus, Watson's conduct in attending the meeting did not constitute misconduct in office and wasn't grounds for a recall.

Wisconsin: Stevens Point School Board members facing petitions

Stevens Point School Board members Lisa Totten and Kim Shirek are facing recall threats over claims that they insulted other board members, lambasted district employees and delayed votes. They are both in their second term. Petitioners would need 6,549 signatures.

Massachusetts: Seekonk hopes Town Administrator loses Fall River mayor recall race

Interesting tale here, as the Administrator will have to resign if he wins.

Oregon: Mayor facing petitions

Gearhart Mayor Dianne Widdop is facing recall petitions, with petitioners needing 102 valid signatures. 

The claim is that Widdop went beyond her authority as mayor by requesting that a business owner remove a candidate’s sign from a window; inappropriately used the word, ‘we’ that suggested she spoke for the entire City Council; secretly recording a conversation between her, Sigler and City Administrator Chad Sweet and distributing the recording; and “publicly denouncing a candidate’s ability to serve in public office, citing his ‘alleged’ temper.”

Colorado: Mancos School Board member recall rejected due to County Clerk error

The recall against Mancos School Board member Beverly Humiston-Scott was rejected, after an attorney realized that a miscalculation by the County Clerk gave petitioners the wrong number of signatures needed. Petitioners were told they needed 212 signatures (40% of total votes for her). However, they actually needed 352 signatures (40% of the total for the seat).

Petitioners had gathered 267 signatures, 220 were found valid. They now have 15 days to get the rest.

Massachusetts: Sagus Board of Registars member resigned rather than approve recall

Sagus Board of Registrars member Gary Butt resigned rather than be involved in the recall signature certification of four town selectmen. Butt claims that the recall is being run contrary to town law (he feels there should be a two step process -- a recall vote and then an election of successors).

Massachusetts: Ashby Selectman recall underway

Ashby Selectman Steve Ingerson is facing petitions led by Selectman Michael McCallum allegedly over Ingerson's questions of another Selectman's commitment to the town. Ingerson claims he has not received answer to requests for documents, notably W-2s of all the town employees. Ingerson has refused to sign the payroll warrants for employees.

Petitioners need 430 signatures (20% of registereds).

New Mexico: Petition dropped against one Las Cruces councilman

The recall campaign against Las Cruces City Councilor Nathan Small, though two against  Olga Pedroza and Gill Sorg are continuing. The petitioners (a conservative group called New Mexicans for a Better Tomorrow) have raised $30,000 for the effort, though the mayor has done robo calls asking residents not to sign.

Massachusetts: Fall River Mayor race hold Karaoke contest among candidates

Okay, this one is new to me.

Taiwan: Recall petitions fail against two legislators

Here

Michigan: Howell School Board Trustees petitions rejected

The Election Commission rejected petitions against four Howell School Board Trustees, Michael Moloney, Deborah McCormick, Stacy Pasini and Mike Yenshaw over their firing of the school superintendent. The petitions avoided the issue of the firing, and were rejected for vagueness.

Louisiana: Key issues that lead to the Gonzales recall

Here

Massachusetts: Sagus recall petitions verified, February 3rd date to be set

Here and some earlier coverage here

Idaho: Signatures handed in against Jefferson County Prosecutor

Petitioners handed in 3,582 signatures in the recall of long-time (over  30 years) Jefferson County Prosecutor Robin Dunn, they need 2,824. The issue was Dunn's alleged use of county workers to do private work for his office. 

Michigan: Comstock Township Supervisor recall fails

Petitioners failed to turn in the 1,260 needed signatures against Comstock Township Supervisor Ann Nieuwenhuis. They claim to have collected almost 1,000. 

The issue was forcing a business owner to take out a sign permit.