Florida: Two Madeira Beach commissioners facing April 17 vote

The recalls of Commissioners John Douthirt and Nancy Oakley are set to take place on April 17 (provided that a judge doesn't get involved). The election is suppose to cost up to $150,000, with $90,000 covering overnight mailing of ballots.

Colorado: A look at the use of the recall in Colorado

Here

Oregon: Clatskanie School Board recall going to the ballot

Two board members, Monty Akin and Judy Skirvin, are facing an upcoming recall vote following a decision not to renew a principal's contract on a 3-2 vote. A third board member, Walt Lovegren, resigned on Match 19. Petitioners needed 288 signatures to get on the ballot.

California: First attempt to recall Stockton Councilman fails

An attempt to recall Councilman Jesus Andrade failed after only seven of ten signatures were handed in. There are a kitchen sink type of complaint over negligence of maintenance. Andrade claims that it supporters of former Mayor Anthony Silva who is leading the effort. The group is also targeting Mayor Michael Tubbs who beat Silva for the seat.

Former Councilman Ralph White is one of the lead petitioners. White led the 1984 recall effort against Councilman Mark Stebbins (who beat him in an election) in one of the weirdest recalls of all time.

New Jersey: Lacey School Board member facing recall effort from gun-rights groups

Board member Linda Downing is facing a recall effort following the disciplining of two students who posted photos on social media at a gun range.

Petitioners would need 5022 signatures in 160 days. An update here

Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Tribal Chairman facing recall

Chairman Thurlow "Sam" McClellan will be up for a recall vote on Tuesday, April 3 over claims that he misused a tribal credit card, though others claim that the issue is that he has been an critic of plans to build a new casino.

Michigan: Petitions taken out against Bedford Charter Township Supervisor

Township Supervisor Adam Heikkila is facing petitions over claims that he refuses to keep business hours, pushed for the dismissal of ordinance violation case against him and being threatened with arrest for disorderly conduct. Petitioners need 734 signatures to get on the ballot.

Update: Petition language has been approved.

Colorado: Cost holding up recall effort against indicted Fremont County Clerk and Recorder

The recall effort against Fremont County Clerk Katie Barr, who is in court over embezzling funds and other misdeeds, is currently debating the cost of the effort, with a Commissioner noting that the cost of a recall may top her $72,500 salary. Barr's term ends at the end of the year. Petitions would have to be in by July 18 and need 3581 signatures.

New Mexico: Los Alamos County Council Chair facing recall effort

County Council Chair David Izraelevitz is facing a recall effort by a Greg White, who is running for County Sheriff, claiming 31 counts of wrongdoing -- New Mexico is a malfeasance standard/judicial recall state so the petitioner would need to meet a legal standard to get the recall on the ballot. White claims that Israelevitz is not allowed to serve due to term limits and that he advocated the overthrow of the the State of New Mexico.

California: Appellate Court rejects Santa Clara Judge Appeal to stop recall

The appeal by Judge Aaron Persky was over whether the petitioner should have filed the recall effort with the California Secretary of State rather than the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. The issue was whether he was a state officer or a local officer.

Maine: Signatures handed in against three Scarborough School Board members

Close to 3300 signatures were handed in against board members Donna Beeley, Jodi Shea and Cari Lynford over the resignation of a principal, school start times changes, a proficiency-based education model and transparency issues. Petitioners need 2622 valids.

Ohio: Cincinnati Councilman in favor of recall law after mayoral drama

Councilman Wendell Young is arguing that the city needs a recall law following Mayor John Cranley's push to get the City Manager to resign. Young may back a voter proposal to get the recall voted into the charter.

Colorado: Recall threats against Fremont County Clerk and Recorder

County Clerk and Recorder Katie Barr (R), who was arrested on charges of embezzlement, harassment, intimidation of a witness and fraud by check, may face a recall effort if she returns to work. Petitioners would need 3581 signatures. There's an interesting discussion of a provision that would require a Democratic candidate to get more signatures than a Republican to contest in a recall race.

In the case of a recall election for the Fremont County Clerk and Recorder, the successor candidate for the Republican party would have to obtain 961 valid signatures, a successor candidate for the Democratic party would have to garner 2,865 signatures, and a minor party or unaffiliated candidate would have to get 287. Goff said the number of signatures required for a Democratic candidate is much higher because the Democrats did not have a candidate on the ballot during the last primary, so the number has to be based on a percentage of the total votes cast for all candidates at the last general election instead of a percentage of votes cast for the Democratic candidate at the primary.

Massachusetts: Scarborough Superintendent tries to prevent voter registration drive focused on school board recall

Superintendent Julie Kukenberger has asked students to refrain from a voter registration drive during school hours, which is taking place at the same time as a recall against three school board members, Chairwoman Donna Beeley, and members Cari Lyford and Jodi Shea. Petitioners need 2622 signatures -- the group claims they have 2150.

The issue comes over the firing of a principal and an 83-1 faculty no confidence vote against the Superintendent. 

Michigan: Signatures validated in four of five Saugatuck Township recalls

Petitions against Clerk Brad Rudich (415), Treasurer Lori Babinski (387), Trustees Roy McIlwaine (375) and Douglas Lane (393) were validated. Petitioners needed 336 each. The issue was a failure to remove an employee who was reprimanded. The four are all Republicans and any candidate running against will be listed either as a different party or as non-partisan.

North Dakota: Petitions taken out against Richland School Board

School Board members Lisa Amundson, Josh Mjoness and Sarah Myers are facing recall efforts after investigations of alleged sexual misconduct by students and basketball players. The Superintendent has been put on administrative leave. The petitions would require between 40 and 70 signatures.

Wisconsin: Crandon School Board facing recall threats

Crandon School Board Members are facing recall threats following the suspension of the Superintendent, who was suspended and under investigation following the removal of a principal. The group is in favor of the removal of the superintendent, but want other action taken. They are debating whether to target all five members or just one.

California: Montebello Mayor and Councilman facing recall effort over commercial marijuana ruling

Petitions were taken out against Mayor Vanessa Delgado and Councilman Jack Hadjinian following the council's 3-2 decision to approve some commercial marijuana businesses (Councilman Art Barajas, the third vote, has his term end this year). Delgado is running for the State Senate and is blaming Councilwoman Vivian Romero, who is also running for the Senate, for pushing the recall. Romero denied the claim.

Petitioners need about 6000 signatures to get on the ballot and plan to raise $30,000 to hire signature-gatherers.

California: Santa Barbara Board of Education facing recall efforts

Board members Jacqueline Reid, Wendy Sims-Moten, Ismael Paerdes Ulloa and Kate Parker are facing recall efforts following a 4-1 vote to remove a principa of the San Marcos school.

California: Recall effort against Fresno Central Unifed School Board members after firing superintendent

Board members Phillip Cervantes and Richard Solis are facing a recall effort following the firing of a superintendent. Petitioners need about 3000 signatures to get on the ballot. Petitioners are trying to get it on the ballot as a special election rather than be included in the general election in November.

Maine: Three Scarborough School Board members facing recall effort

Petitioners are seeking the recall of board members Donna Beeley, Jodi Shea and Cari Lynford over the resignation of a principal, school start times changes, a proficiency-based education model and transparency issues. They are also looking for the resignation of the Superintendent.

Oregon: Baker City Councilor facing recall following guilty plea in criminal mischief charge

City Councilor Adam Nilsson is facing a recall effort after he plead guilty to a criminal mischief charge of trespass on an abandoned county-owned lime plant. Nilsson was appointed to the council and his term ends at the end of the year. Petitioners need 586 signatures by June 4.

Nevada: Court ruling holds signatures can be struck out by removal form in Senate recall

A district court ruled that names can be removed from recall signatures, which could kill the recall attempts against Senators Joyce Woodhouse (D) and Nicole Cannizzaro (D). Democrats have collected more than 2000 removal forms. Petitioners have a margin of 243 for Woodhouse and 43 for Cannizzaro.

The Republicans plan to appeal.

Oregon: Three Ashland Parks and Recreation Commissioners survive recall vote

All three Commissioners, Michael Gardiner (4030-1756), Jim Lewis (4042-1748) and Rick Landt (4034-1752) overwhelmingly survived the recall vote. The issue was the Ashland Senior Center staff and a modification of the senior services.

Texas: Plano Councilman recall push claims to be nearing signature requirement

The recall committee against Councilman Tom Harrison, who was censured by the council after posting a Facebook video calling for the ban of Islam in schools, claims they will soon have the signatures needed to get on the ballot. They need 2791 and have to get it in by April 5.

Michigan: Kinderhook Township Clerk up for May 8 vote

Clerk Cynthia Carpenter (R) is facing Ginger Kesler (NP) in a May 8 recall over mileage reimbursement, FOIA violation, replacing deputy clerks and refusing to share information. The lead petitioner, Michael Exelby, lost to Carpenter by 12 votes in the 2016 Republican primary.

California: Palo Verde school board facing recall effort

School Board Members Gloria Hauff and Mark Trigueiro are facing a recall effort, as might members Lorraine Cleek, Natalie Coelho and Chris De Azevedo (the last three are up for reelection in November, so likely not them). Petitioners need 187 signatures to get on the ballot. The issue is the failure to extend the principal's contract (the board oversees a single school).

Arizona: South Tucson Mayor and Councilmembers kicked out in recall vote

Mayor Ildefonso Green and Councilmen Rufino Cantu, Robert Larribas and Carlos Romo were all kicked out in a recall vote and replaced by former Mayor Paul Diaz, Rita Rogers, Herman Lopez and Roberto Teso.

Michigan: Court of Appeals rules that councilman should not have been able to run in Flint mayoral recall and for reelection

Councilman Scott Kincaid lost in his recall fight against Mayor Karen Weaver while attempting to run for reelection. A judge ruled that he couldn't run for both and Kincaid withdrew from the council race. The Appellate Court held that it is incompatible to run for two offices at once.

Wisconsin: St. Francis Mayor ousted in recall vote

Mayor CoryAnn St. Marie-Carls lost her recall vote to Alderman Ken Tutaj, 1175-789, with a 39.5% voter turnout. Marie-Carls has been in office six years and was tossed for unprofessional behavior.

Marie-Carls faced a call for her resignation by other council members after a no confidence over disputes with staff and dispute whether the mayor should have a key to the police department.

Georgia: Camilla Mayor facing petitions after group gets past first hurdle.

Petitioners handed in over 100 valid signatures calling for the recall of Mayor Rufus Davis. Petitioners still need the judge to sign off.

Oregon: Clatskanie School Board members facing recall after refusing to renew principal

Three School Board Members, Chair Walt Lovegren and Directors Judy Skirvin and Monty Akin are facing recall petitions following their refusal to renew the contract of a principal. Petitioners need 288 signatures to get on the ballot.

Oregon: Gold Hill City Council facing recall threat

City Councilman Ron Palmer is facing a recall threat after he resigned and then later rescinded his resignation. Sawyer's Paddle Shop Owner Pete Newport, who has been denied an appointment and was disqualified from a 2016 mayoral race based on residency issues, is pushing for a recall. He wrote resignation letters for the entire council over complaints that the city beach park was in disarray, a problem with a state-owned bridge and some resignations of city employees.

Alaska: Unalaska mayor recall vote had 27% registered voter turnout

The final vote against Mayor Frank Kelty was 204 for a recall and 326 against, resulting in Kelty staying in office.

102 Recalls in 2017 -- 39 removed, 31 resigned, 29 survived; At least 395 attempts

Many months late, here's the Recall Elections Blog's annual end of the year stats: In 2017, we had 102 recalls, though some asterisk here. 39 officials were removed in the vote, 31 resigned. 29 officials survived a recall vote. Additionally, in one recall, the official did not contest the recall and instead ran for Mayor (and won). In two other recalls, no one ran against the official so the recalls were cancelled.

I count 395 recall efforts over all. The good folks at Ballotpedia have slightly different numbers, but they are roughly similar.

This year saw a drop from 2016, when there were 120 recalls. This is actually the least recalls in a year since I’ve been tracing. In 2015, there were 108; 2014 (which, I never actually wrote up), 126 recalls. In 2013, we had 107 recalls. 2012 we had 168, and a 2011 we had 151. It does seem that there is a drop in off-year elections. I imagine this is partly because of the waiting period that most jurisdictions have right after an official starts in office.

We also saw officials kill recalls in the administrative setting – Hearne, Texas is one very clear example. We also missed a rare Recall Trial in Norfolk,Virginia, where the official was convicted and removed before the recall trial was started. And in Nevada, the Supreme Court killed any opportunity for a recall of judges.

For the fourth straight year, no state official has faced a recall (though in 2015, the Oregon Governor resigned in the face of recall threats). This is a return to the historic norm, though one that is going to end with the recall of a California State Senator Josh Newman (as well as possible ones in Nevada).

·                     22 states had recall elections take place 

·                     The big recall states were Colorado (18) and Oregon (11) – Michigan and California are surprisingly not on the list 

·                     I have not included recalls in Native American territory nor do I include HOAs or Senior Living Communities. 

UK: Scottish Labour leader calls for recall law for Members of Scottish Parliament

Following a harassment scandal, Scottish Labour Leader Richard Leonard is calling for a recall law.

Alaska: Unalaska Mayor survives recall vote

Mayor Frank Kelty survived a recall vote, with 62% casting ballots for him to stay (286-177 -- and 74 absentee/questioned ballots still to be counted). The recall was over a dock agreement.

Florida: Madeira Beach commissioners recall facing scheduling problems and potential significant conflict of interest

Petitioners handed in enough signatures to get a recall against Commissioner John Douthirt and Nancy Oakley on the ballot, but there is a dispute as to whether the City Attorney Ralf Brooks has contacted the Chief Circuit Court Judge Anthony Rondolino, who is responsible for setting a date. Brooks is serving as the Commissioners' personal attorney to block the recall.

Florida: Recall effort against Riviera Beach City Council members still in court

The judge has refused a request to dismiss the case. Here's some early coverage of the attempt to throw out 8600 signatures that led to the recall effort.

Georgia: Camilla Mayor facing recall effort

Mayor Rufus Davis is facing a recall effort led by former Councilwoman Vivian Smith, following a number of complaints against Davis, including that he is facing a $2.9 million tax levy, boycotting council meetings and an attempt to fire the Housing Authority Director.

In 2016, a recall was attempted against Councilmembers Smith, Lewis Campbell Jr. W.D. Palmer and Annie Doris Willingham. The effort was thought to have the backing of Davis and was thrown out by a judge.

Tennessee: Look back at East Tennessee's mayoral scandals

The article notes that Knoxville Mayor Cas Walker was kicked out in a recall (than in 1956 was the center of a picture showing him ready to punch a councilman).

Michigan: Signatures verified against Kinderhook Township Clerk

Petitioners handed in 173 signatures to recall Clerk Cynthia Carpenter over how she has been reimbursed for mileage. 166 were valid, and 124 were needed. The lead petitioner, Michael Exelby, lost to Carpenter in the 2016 Republican primary by 12 votes.

Michigan: Leoni Township officials facing recall effort over medical marijuana fee structures

Supervisor Howard Linnabary, Clerk Michele Manke and Treasurer Lori Stack are facing recall efforts over medical marijuana applications. The seven board members were paid for the first 18 medical marijuana applications ($15000). Petitioners need 984 signatures to get on the ballot.

Maine: Scarborough school board members facing petitions

School Board Chairwoman Donna Beeley and members Cari Lyford and Jodi Shea are facing a recall effort following the resignation of a high school principal, who was reportedly forced out by the superintendent and tried to withdraw his resignation. Petitioners need 2622 signatures (25% of turnout). Petitioners have 20 days to collect signatures.

Texas: Windcrest City Council recall, which council refused to schedule, killed by Appellate Court ruling/run out the clock behavior

The state Appellate Court unanimously shot down a recall effort against Councilmen Gerd Jacobi, James McFall and Jim Shelton under the argument that petitioner doesn't have the right to demand the action requested. Petitioners handed in more than 451 signatures in January, but due to what the article calls a "certification blunder" -- though it seems worse than that -- the city officials only counted signatures from people who voted in the last election, rather than from all registered voters. This allowed certification to be pushed back until early February, where the councilmen facing a recall failed to show up, depriving the council of a quorum. The result was that the recall was not scheduled before a February 16 date to get on the May ballot.

Illinois: Rockford City Council approves recall law

Rockford would be only the second city in Illinois, after Buffalo Grove, to adopt a recall law. Voters must approved a referendum in November for the law to go into effect.

Tennessee: Nashville Mayor resigns before recall effort starts

Mayor Meghan Barry plead guilty to theft of city funds and resigned her position following revelations of an affair with her bodyguard. A recall effort was set to begin in April.

Michigan: Kalkaska Village President recall set for May 8 primary day

Village President Jeff Sieting will be facing a vote on May 8 over his tweets about Muslims, Black Lives Matters and votes on budget issues. Petitioners handed in 196 valid signatures, they needed 166. Sieting's term ends at the end of the year.

Texas: Forest Hill Councilwoman facing recall effort

322 valid signatures were handed in against Councilwoman Stephanie Boardingham -- too late for the May 5 primary ballot, but it could be on for Election Day in November.

The claims include complaints about her vote on matter dealing with her business (a market), spending money on car rentals and hotel rooms. She also filed a lawsuit against the city in 2016 over a flea market that she operated.

The lead petitioner is a former mayor.

Tennessee: Petitions against Nashville Mayor to be taken out on April 10

A group pushing for the recall of Mayor Megan Barry following revelations of her affair with a top security official/bodyguard is moving forward. They need close to 60,000 signatures. The group announced April 10, the day before early voting for primaries begins, as the day they will take out petitions (they have 30 days to collect).

New Mexico: State adopts law that commission-manager government municipality has recall law

The bill that was signed into law, HB 49, clarifies a point of law that makes removes the state District Court from making a decision on recalls  against commission-manager government municipalities. All recalls in the state are on the malfeasance standard (requiring a showing of malfeasance, misfeasance of violation of oath of office).

Massachusetts: Appellate Court greenlights Townsend recall effort

An appellate court reversed a nine month old decision stopping the recall of Selectmen Gordon Clark and Cindy King with the court limiting its role in policing recalls:

"The role of courts in policing recall elections generally is limited to ensuring the integrity of the process," the court wrote. "(Previous) cases counsel against courts being drawn into evaluating the stated grounds for recall, something that would run the risk of the courts usurping the public debate on local issues to be decided at the ballot box."

However, Clark's term ends next month and King appears to be running for State Representative. The issue was an investigation of the police officials for running unlawful background checks on town employees.