Sunday, October 30, 2016

Illinois: Activists call for recall law passage

Activists noting the second anniversary of the shooting of Laquan McDonald have called for passage of recall law sponsored by State Representative Ken Dunkin. The recall law is specifically targets the Chicago Mayor, and goes after no other official. 

New York: Indictment of Nassau County Executive leads to new calls for recall law

The indictment of Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano (R) has led to new calls for a recall law in the state. The state Senate passed a recall law, though it would be a malfeasance standard/for cause/judicial recall law, requiring felony charges or misdemeanor conviction to get the recall started. The law was sponsored by Senator Sue Serino, though it is a "one-house turkey" in the Albany parlance -- no bill has even been sponsored in the Assembly.

The law would require signatures of 20% of turnout for state legislators, 30% for local officials and 15% in each congressional district for statewide officials. Petitioners would have 180 days to gather the signatures.

Wisconsin: Calls for recall effort against Milwaukee Sheriff

Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke (D), who has called for "pitchforks and torches" in his advocacy of Republican nominee Donald Trump, has faced calls for a recall, though nothing serious yet. Petitioners would need 92,032 signatures to get on the ballot.

Myanmar: MPs discuss adopting recall law

Here

Arkansas: Humphrey Mayor recall on Election Day Ballot

Mayor Rodney Harrison is facing a recall vote on November 8. The article doesn't note the reasons for the recall.

Michigan: Ontwa Township Supervisor who won seat in recall two years ago not seeking reelection

Supervisor John Bossler is not seeking reelection to the seat he won two years ago, ousting Supervisor John Breilmaier.

Louisiana: State Rep discusses changing recall law to turnout from registered voters

Here

Maine: Public Hearing set for two Peru Selectmen recalls

Selectman Wendy Henderson and John Witherell are facing set to face a recall vote on November 18. Petitioners handed in 107 signatures to get it on the ballot.

California: Recall effort against Yorba Linda Water District Board of Directors leads to angry confrontations

Bob Kiley and Gary Melton are up for recall and others are facing a regular vote in a tense fight over high rates and government waste.

California: San Diego voting on recall law

Here

Nigeria: Bauchi Senator facing recall effort

Baluchi South Senator Ali Wakili is facing a recall threat by five political associations over a claimed failure to meet expected representations and establish offices in his senatorial zone. The recall cited Article 69 of the 1999 Constitution, Chapter V, Part 1(C).

Rhode Island: Petitioners against Providence City Councilor claims slowdown effort

Petitioners have handed in 360 signatures City Councilor Kevin Jackson and claim that Jackson is trying to slowdown the recall effort. Jackson was arrested on charges of embezzling more than $127,000 from a youth sports organization.

California: Antioch School Board Trustee facing recall petitions

Board Member Debra Vinson was served over alleged mistreatment of a school employee, with the employee and the union asking for an apology.

Michigan: Houghton Lake Community School Board Member facing May 2 recall

School Board Member Kevin Nagel will be facing a recall vote on May 2, 2017. The issue was an open meeting law violation by voting to hire a private investigator to investigate an employee. There were also recalls outstanding against Board President Kelly Christian and Treasurer Mark Souder.

Kansas: Minneapolis Mayor facing recall on Election Day

Mayor Ryan White is facing a November 8 recall vote over claims that he failed to perform his duties. Petitioners handed in 251 valid signatures. They were needed 243. White claims that the recall is over his decision to not reappoint the City Clerk.

Missouri: Lee's Summit City Council member facing recall petitions

Council member Chris Moreno is facing petitions over claims of voter intimidation and misconduct, including complaints over  Target's transgender bathroom, as well as lawsuits against a council member calling for her resignation following illegal bids and a bankruptcy filing.

Petitioners need 522 signatures in 60 days.

Florida: Bradenton City Council recall effort fails

The move to recall three city council members, Patrick Roff, Gene Brown and Bemis Smith, has floundered. The issue was the council's decision to relocate Glazier-Gates Park for development. The committee was called Recall Them All, but three council members are up for reelection so they couldn't face a recall. The drive couldn't not get the first set of signatures. It would have needed 4500 signatures (15% of registereds) in 60 days.

Missouri: Columbia Councilwoman who faced unsuccessful recall effort not seeking reelection

The recall against Laura Nauser never got on the ballot.

Canada: Op-ed calling for recall in Canada

Here's a piece in the Toronto Sun, noting that British Columbia adopted the law in 1991 with 81% in favor. There have been 26 attempts, all failed. Two MLA's resigned in the face of a recall, including Premier Gordon Campbell.

Louisiana: Lawsuit over Jefferson Parish President recall effort tries to overturn 600 feet ban from voting sites

The effort to get a recall on the ballot against Mike Yenni over improper texts to a 17 year old high school student has a new wrinkle, as petitioners are suing to overturn a Louisiana law banning any signature gathering within 600 feet of a voting site. The recall petitioners want to be able to get as close as 100 feet to get signatures to get the recall on the ballot. The group need 90,527 valid signatures by mid-April, and Election Day does seem to be the best moment for gathering.

The lawsuit seems heavy on the invective calling Yenni "an admitted child pedophile and open homosexual while being married with children."

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Wisconsin: Paris Town Board facing November 22 recall

The recalls against Chairman Virgil Gentz and Supervisors Ronald Kammerzelt and Kenneth Monson have been scheduled for November 22. The vote is over the transfer of land from Paris to another city.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

New Mexico: Las Vegas mayor facing petitions

Mayor Tonita Gurule-Giron is facing a recall effort, with petitioners needing at least 920 signatures (25% of turnout). The leader of the effort is a former campaign volunteer for Gurule-Giron. The petitioners are claiming that she lost moer than $4 million from stopped water projects, terminate employees without explanation and refused to protect animals.

Pennsylvania: West York Mayor's racists and anti-Clinton posts led to calls for ouster

West York Mayor Charles Wasko is very active on Facebook, and not in a good way. This article notes that only two states (Utah and Mississippi) have less ability than Pennsylvania to remove recalcitrant elected officials.

This article notes that there were 22 attempts to add a local recall law to Pennsylvania
s constitution since 1979.

Rhode Island: Providence Councilman challenges recall signatures

Councilman Kevin Jackson, who was indicted on charges that he embezzled $127,000 from a youth track and field team, is appealing the signatures in the first stage of the recall petition against him. Petitioners handed in 360 signatures, they need 300. At this point, they would need 20% of registered voters (about 2000) signatures in 120 days.

Maine: Two Peru Selectmen facing November 18 vote

Chairwoman Wendy Henderson and Vice Chairman John Witherell are up for recall on November 18, though there is still debate on the validity of the signatures. Some residents claim that a witness wasn't present at the signing, though that may not be a requirement.

Michigan: Flint Councilman targeted in recall effort

Councilman Scott Kincaid is facing petitions after the council tabled three resolutions by Mayor Karen Weaver in an attempt to teach her a lesson, though there are questions as to whether he can be recalled (his term ends in 2017). Kincaid has been in office for 31 years.

Oregon: Portland Commissioner facing petitions over new police contract

The group "Don't Shoot Portland" is now trying to recall Commissioner Nick Fish, changing its focus from Commissioner Amanda Fritz (who starts a new term on January 1), The group would need about 36,000 signatures in 90 days. The issue is a new police contract.


Friday, October 14, 2016

Oregon: Klamath Irrigation District removes Board President, retains 1

The unofficial vote is in for the Klamath Irrigation District, as Board President Bret Cheyne lost his seat 89-77. A second board member, Ken Smith survived 52-51, with one absentee ballot outstanding (the ballot was unsigned). From the article, it is not clear what a yes would mean. The recall was over alleged poor performance.

A third member, Grant Knoll, will face a recall on November 7.

California: Petitions printed against San Francisco Mayor

While not many are giving the effort a chance to succeed, signature gathering has started against San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. Petitioners would need about 47,000 signatures.

Louisiana: Failed effort against St. Tammany Parish Coroner leads to calls for recall reform law

A State Representative Paul Hollis (R) has a study looking at how the recall law should be changed. Louisiana has arguably the most restrictive recall law in the country (among states with a political recall law).

Here's an editorial by Representative Hollis on the subject.

Tennessee: Rutherford County Sheriff indictment leads to calls for recall law

The indictment and arrest of Sheriff Robert Arnold over allegations that he profited from the sale of JailCigs has led to calls for a recall law.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Maine: Litchfield voters approve recall ordinance

There was little discussion of the ordinance at the special town meeting. Voters overwhelmingly approved the proposal (there seemed to be one opposed vote) -- the provision was the one put forward by the selectmen -- and rejected the original provision (as discussed here).

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Arkansas: Hartford Mayor facing recall in November

Mayor James Baker is facing a recall vote in November. Petitioners handed in over 100 signatures (including four city council members), They needed 40. The issues seem to be over hiring policies and a vote to move City Hall.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Louisiana: Jefferson Parish President under recall fire over sexts to HS student

Parish President Mike Yenni has refused to step down after sexts to a 17 year-old high school student. The age of consent is 17 in Louisiana, but there's now federal questions about sexts to an under 18 year old.

Petitioners would need 90.157 signatures in 180 days to get the recall on the ballot.



Kansas: Leavenworth County Commission Chairman facing petitions

Leavenworth County Commission Chairman Bob Holland (R) is facing a recall effort over what he claims is his problems with the county treasurer Janice Parys, who was connections to the recall leaders. Three members of the Commission had to sign a consent order agreement with the state's AG over their violations of open meetings law. Holland claims that he was following instructions from county Counselor David Van Parys (the treasurer's husband).

Petitioners need 2012 signatures by early January.

Monday, October 10, 2016

South Dakota: Nisland Board Chairman facing recall effort

Chairman Harold Gray is facing a recall effort, though the board seems to be holding up any approval. I've yet to find any article explaining this recall.

Nevada: North Las Vegas Municipal Judge still on the bench, Supreme Court still not coming down with a decision on recall law

Long after the signatures were handed in against North Las Vegas Municipal Judge Catherine Ramsey, the Nevada Supreme Court still hasn't ruled on whether judges in Nevada can face recalls and it seems that it very intentional -- and for reasons that are unclear (I'm guessing they don't want judges to have a recalls put against them -- does anyone have another reason?).

Ramsey signed a discipline agreement but she has not sent apology letters nor fulfilled the rest of her agreement.

Particularly noteworthy is this paragraph:
Nevada Supreme Court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer said he hoped last month’s sanctions against Ramsey would squash any initiatives to recall her.
With less than four months left on her term when factoring in the upcoming suspension, Ramsey is “essentially finished,” Sommermeyer said. To recall her now, opponents would have to refile a court order and recollect the necessary signatures to proceed.
“There wouldn’t be anything like that,” Sommermeyer said. “All we did was close the case after we accepted this agreement.”

Virginia: Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk recall before a judge

The recall effort against Clerk Erica Williams (D) over the dismissal of four deputy clerk is set for a hearing before a retired judge. This is not the actual recall trial, just the first stage.

Oklahoma: Healdton puts recall on the ballot

After two failed attempts to schedule a recall against Councilmembers Treva Gaga and Linda Hill, the council has finally put the recall on the February 14, 2017 ballot. Interestingly, the charter requires a special election in 30 days, but state law no longer allows special elections.

There is now a recall effort going against Councilman Manuel Davila as well for opposing putting the recall on the ballot.

Maryland: Taneytown looking to adopt a recall law

This will be on the ballot 

Maine: Litchfield to vote on recall election ordinance on October 11 town meeting

There are two ordinances -- one is from a petition with 257 signatures, the other is by the selectmen. Both requires 10 percent of turnout from the gubernatorial election. The selectmen's proposal includes a three month waiting period at the start of the term, and a six month grace period after a recall is held.

Friday, October 7, 2016

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Wisconsin: Supreme Court turns down hearing appeal in John Doe investigation

Here -- the investigation was about whether Walker's recall defense effort was too closely coordinated with the Wisconsin Club for Growth

Colorado: Basalt Town Council member facing recall threats

Councilwoman  Jennifer Riffle is facing a demand that she resign by fellow councilman Mark Kittle over allegations that she lied in an email to Kittle and other council members as to whether the Police Chief was against making it easier to sell marijuana. The recall effort couldn't be started until mid-October.

Michigan: Ontwa Township Clerk who won recall in 2014 ousted

Teri McNaughton, who won office in the 2014 recall of Paula Ralph over the opposition to a wastewater plant, lost her seat.

Georgia: Judge stops Grovetown councilman recall

No big surprise, as a judge rejected the recall effort against Councilman Dennis Trudeau. The issue was that he is the step-father of the city clerk who is facing a federal investigation into water bills. Georgia requires a judicial recall/malfeasance standard "for cause" showing, and this wasn't enough to meet it.

Louisiana: Monroe School Board pushed to resign, discussion of recall

Monroe School Board Brenda Shelling is facing a push to resign after she has been accused of making racists comments about white people and anti-gay comments, with a discussion of threats of a recall.

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation ousts board secretary

Secretary David Close was removed as Board of Trustee Secretary 312-257, over allegations of following procedure, elder abuse and abuse of positions.

California: Oakland Mayor recall not gaining traction

Here's a piece on the recall effort against Libby Schaaf, which mentions the frequent efforts against Oakland mayors.

Sunday, October 2, 2016

California: San Diego Measure E on the ballot

This will allow the City Council (by 3/4ths vote) to get a recall on the ballot for a conviction for felony, civil fraud or a court declaration.

Texas: El Paso Bishop upset about payment to mayor over recall effort

Here's a discussion of a letter to the editor written by Bishop Tom Brown over the $418,750 that the Word of Life Church had to pay former Mayor John Cook over the recall effort in 2011.

Rhode Island: Providence Councilman facing recall attempt

Councilman Kevin Jackson, who is charged with embezzling over $127,000 from a youth sports team and violating campaign finance laws, is facing a recall effort. He was previously the majority leader of the council. Petitioners handed in 388 signatures. They need 300 signatures. If those are certified, petitioners will hten have 120 days to get about 2000 signatures (20% of registereds) to get on the ballot. The vote will be a two stage/two day process (a recall vote and then a special election replacement later).

Connecticut: Westerly Charter Commission recommends recall law

Westerly voters will have a recall law up for vote as a charter amendment in November.

Requries 35% of registered voters to sign, and needs a supermajority of 2/3rds of the vote to succeeded. A separate provision would ban recalled and removed officials from holding elected or appointed office for two years after the recall (or resignation).