Friday, August 31, 2018

New Jersey: Two challengers in Mahwah Mayor recall

Two candidates, Mike Devine and Frank Pallotta, have announced that they will challenge Mayor Bill Laforet is the upcoming recall vote. Neither seems to have held office before.

California: Lake Forest recall effort investigated for forgery

The recall effort against Councilman Andrew Hamilton, who was kicked out in the January 2 recall vote over his support for road projects, is now being investigated for forgery.

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Wisconsin: A third candidate enters Trempealeau County District Attorney recall race

County attorney Rick Niemeier (R) has become the third candidate in the recall race to challenge District Attorney Taavi McMahon (D). Because there are more than two candidates, there will be a primary on October 2. ADA John Sacia (D) will face off against McMahon. Then the winner will face Niemeier on Election Day. McMahon suspended Sacia from his job after he entered the race.

McMahon is facing the recall after he suspended an employee for refusing to attend the Jackson County DA's funeral as well as claims of prosecutorial failures. The county board has sought his resignation. McMahon has been on leave since May 9. McMahon's supporters claim the issue is a debate over new views of criminal justice reform. One of the lead petitioners is the Osseo Police Department Chief.

Navajo Nation School Board facing recall vote

Alamo Navajo School Board President Hector Guerro, VP Bucky Apache and Member Edward Padilla are facing an upcoming recall vote over questions of misspending. The recall is still being appealed.

New Jersey: Rockaway Township Acting Mayor facing recall effort

Acting Mayor Jeremy Jedynak (R) is facing a recall effort, with one of the leaders being the widow of his immediate predecessor, Mayor Michael Dachisen (R). Dachisen died on August 15 of a heart attack, leading to Jedynak taking over. The issue is claims of hostile behavior. Jednyak is accused of calling a special council meeting the day after the funeral in "an effort to replace the municipal attorney."

Petitioners need about 4564 signatures to get on the ballot.

Michigan: Bedford Charter Township Supervisor facing vote in November

Township Supervisor Adam Heikkila (R) will be facing a recall vote in November. Petitioners handed in over 1000 signatures and needed 734 valids (the article does not note how many they actually got).. Lead petitioner Kraig Dingman intends to run as an independent. The issues are allegedly failing to maintain business hours, pushing to have an ordinance violation dismissed against him, and claims of creating a hostile environment.

Idaho: Atomic City Councilman kicked out in recall vote

Councilman Dave Sonnenberg lost his recall election 17-7. Sonnenberg was facing recall following battles with Mayor Chris Polatis over questions of agendas, an replacement councilmember appointment and potential dis-incorporation of the city (the city has 30 people).

Councilmember Donald Sortor is also facing a petition.

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Alaska: Ketchikan School Board President resigns

School Board President Trevor Shaw resigned before his October 2nd recall vote. The recall was over complaints about health insurance premiums, teacher contract negotiations and the public meeting atmosphere appears to have met the signature requirement. Petitioners handed in over 700 signatures and need 540. They got 640.

Monday, August 27, 2018

Wisconsin: Big Bend Village Board Trustee recall scheduled for October 2

Trustee Jeff Goodman will be up for a recall vote on October 2 over a dispute about entering fire and water contract negotiations without the village president or clerk/treasurer present. Petitioners, which includes former trustees, need 165 signatures. They got 201.

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Colorado: Weld County Commissioner recall efforts fails to hand in signatures

Petitioners failed to hand in signatures against Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer over claims that of using her position for personal gain. Petitioners needed 5767 signatures to get on the ballot. They claimed to have gotten the signatures but that too many were invalid, so they did not hand them in.

Here's an editorial denouncing the recall.

Massachusetts: Husband of Rockland Selectman who resigned running in replacement race

Christopher Hall, the husband of resigned Selectman Deidre Hall, has announced that he will run for to replace her in the November 6 election. Deidre Hall and Selectman Ed Kimball both resigned in the face of a recall threats after D. Hall was accused of pressuring Town Administrator Allan Chiocca into sexual activities because she would be voting on his contract extension and salary increase.Hall  and Kimball were alleged to also be having an affair.

Louisiana: Tallulah Mayor facing recall effort

Mayor Praxton Branch is facing recall efforts with some complaints about the safety of drinking water and transparency in government. Petitioners need about 1600 signatures in 180 days.

Saturday, August 25, 2018

Idaho: Atomic City Councilman facing August 28th Recall vote

Councilman Dave Sonnenberg is facing a recall vote on August 28th following battles with Mayor Chris Polatis over questions of agendas, an replacement councilmember appointment and potential dis-incorporation of the city (the city has 30 people).

Councilmember Donald Sortor is also facing a petition.

California: Five Hornbrook Community Services District board members face recall efforts

All five board members, President Robert Puckett, VP Bryant Schauffler, Secretary Michelle Hanson, and members Melissa Tulledo and Patricia Brown are facing recalls  over claims of "gross dereliction of duty." Petitioners would need 53 signatures (30%) in 40 days to get on the ballots.

Colorado: Brush Councilwoman petitions upheld, date of recall to be decided

Councilwoman Jeanine Anderson is facing an upcoming recall election over complaints that she disrespected other members of the government and the police. Anderson's move to get the petition thrown out was rejected by the courts, with a number of complaints, including one by Anderson of fake Facebook accounts. Petitioners handed in 162 signatures, with 31 tossed out. They needed 69.

Friday, August 24, 2018

Michigan: Indictment of Sheriff for embezzlement; Supporters previously targeted two Thetford Township officials with recalls over questions about surplus military equipment purchases

Trustee Stan Piechnik and Supervisor Gary Stevens faced a failed recall attempt over their questions about the police department's purchasing of military equipment earlier this year. No signatures were handed in. Now, the Thetford Township Police Chief Robert Kenny has been arraigned on embezzlement charges over the purchases.

Louisiana: St. Martinville Councilman facing recall effort

Councilman Dennis Paul Williams is facing a recall effort over claims that he is not available enough and has his own personal agenda. Petitioners need 350 signatures by October 17.

Wisconsin: Trempealeau County District Attorney makes the ballot -- scheduled for October 2

The recall against District Attorney Taavi McMahon has been scheduled for October 2. If there is a primary, the general election will be on Election Day. Petitioners handed in 3385 signatures, they got 3149 and needed 2683. One ADA, John Sacia, has filed to run against McMahon. McMahon then suspended Sacia from his job.

McMahon is facing the recall after he suspended an employee for refusing to attend the Jackson County DA's funeral as well as claims of prosecutorial failures. The county board has sought his resignation. McMahon has been on leave since May 9. McMahon's supporters claim the issue is a debate over new views of criminal justice reform. One of the lead petitioners is the Osseo Police Department Chief.

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

New Jersey: Phillipsburg Mayor facing new recall effort

Mayor Stephen Ellis (D) is facing another recall effort over vague claims of incompetence and misuse of office. Ellis claims the recall is started by "mercenaries" who have accused him of assault (the charges were dropped). Ellis won in 2015, beating a Republican incumbent looking for a fifth term.

One of the lead petitioners, Blaine Fehley, accused the mayor of assault for yelling at him over "crudely manipulated photos."

Petitioners need 2054 signatures in 160 days (25% of registered voters).

Arizona: Second recall effort ongoing against Wickenburg Mayor

A second recall effort against Mayor Everett Sickels is ongoing. In the first recall effort, petitioners, led by Councilman Ruben Madrid, handed in 579 signatures, and needed 440. 400 were certified.

They now claim to have gotten over 600 signatures. The issue is claims that he is questions the future of the police department, criticized the business community and other issues.

California: Madera Mayor recall effort fails

An attempt to recall Mayor Andy Medellin, over claims the doubling of water rates and the salaries for city department heads, failed with one sheet of petitions being handed in.  Petitioners would need about 3600 signatures to get on the ballot and they are claiming that they will try again

New Mexico: Las Cruces approves city charter changes to recall creating malfeasance standard

Las Cruces overwhelmingly approved a change to their recall, seemingly to take it from a political recall to a malfeasance standard/judicial recall one -- effectively, making it so that there needs to be a showing of malfeasance in order to get on the ballot. This change would put the city in line with state law.

The changes would also put in a  60 day time period, let people strike their names, and let the City Council review petitions for compliance with the law. The rule passed (along with a slew of other amendments) 10,090-3870.

One amendment allowing changes to a petition did fail.

The only other time that I have seen a jurisdiction move from a political recall to a malfeasance standard/judicial recall one was in 2012 in College Station.


Louisiana: French Settlement Mayor facing petitions from police chief's wife

Mayor Toni Guitreau is facing a petition effort led by the wife of Police Chief Harry Brignac. Brignac was arrested and charged with malfeasance in office, though the recall leaders claim this arrest was part of a vendetta. Petitioners would need 274 signatures.

Wisconsin: Beaver Dam Mayor facing recall effort

Mayor Becky Glewen is facing a recall over alleged budget/tax issues. Petitioners would need about 1500 signatures in 60 days. The petitions is being led by former Alderwoman Mary Flaherty, who lost in the spring by four votes.

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Missouri: Mapaville Fire Protection District Board Member facing November 6 vote

Board Secretary Annette Acre is facing a November recall vote after was accused of firing the former 33-year chief and trying to replace him with her son, as well as some other behavior (notably, the open records law violations. Petitioners handed in 641 signatures, they got 510 and needed 505.

The Board is suing to stop the recall effort.

California: Petitioners fail to get enough signatures against two Dublin officials

The recall effort against Councilman Abe Gupta and School Trustee Dan Cunningham over various development issues failed. Gupta announced that he won't be seeking reelection.Petitioners handed in 6678 signatures for Gupta, they needed about 5300. They got 5059 valid. For Cunningham they handed in 6874, they needed 5409 and got 5266.

There was also a recall attempt against Vice Mayor Dom Biddle, but that seems to have gone nowhere.

Oregon: Man who twice pushed for mayoral recall running for Oregon City Mayor

Mark Matheson, who twice tried to lead a recall effort against Mayor Dan Holladay, is now running for the position. The recall efforts were allegedly a protest against the city government -- one was over a claim that the the mayoral seat should be up for election earlier than it was because Holladay ran for another office (and lost).

Michigan: Four Tecumseh School Board members to be on the November ballot

Enough signatures were handed in to get the recall efforts against School board Vice President Steven Linn (1658), treasurer Kimberly Amstutz-Wild (1653), Secretary Debbie-Johnson-Berges (1662) and member Jim Rice (1609) over violations of the Open Meetings Act as well as other complaints on the ballot. Petitioners handed in somewhere between 1800-1900 signatures -- they needed 1491 signatures for each.

Massachuetts: Two facing recall efforts in Warren

Selectman Chairman Marc W. Richard and Vice Chairman Dario F. Nardi are facing a recall effort after firing a police officer. Petitioners would need 664 signatures by August 27.

Washington: Kennewick Council member facing petitions

Council member/former Mayor Steve Young is facing a recall effort. Petitioners allege question dealings on Young's part. Washington is a malfeasance standard/Judicial recall state, so the state regulators/courts need to way in on whether the recall meets the for cause requirement.

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Ohio: Richmond Heights voting for charter amendment that will change the language of recalls

The language change is so that voters will be asked if they want to remove the official from office. The current language asks if they want to retain the official.

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Texas: Plano Councilman recall vote cancelled by judge

The recall against Councilman Tom Harrison has been cancelled by a district court judge, who ruled that the city was using an outdated version of the charter to approved the recall. Harrison was .censured by the council after posting a Facebook video calling for the ban of Islam in schools.

Petitioners got 4000 signatures and needed about 2800 under what they were told was the law (30% from the municipal election, which was viewed as the last race for the seat). However, according to a charter submitted to Secretary of State's office in 1961, it is the "last" regular municipal election, which the judge interpreted to be the whole city. The difference was three times greater (27000 people voted in that race). Therefore the signatures didn't meet the new criteria.

Monday, August 13, 2018

Ohio: Huber Heights Councilwoman recall makes the ballot; big problems with scheduling

Petitioners have enough signatures to get the recall of Councilwoman Janell Smith on the ballot, but there is a debate about the notification provision which may mean that the recall cannot be scheduled for Election Day. The issue was information about a city water pressure project.

California: Montebello Mayor steps down to take temporary California Senate seat

Mayor Vanessa Delgado, who is facing a recall along with Councilman Jack Hadjinian, over votes to allow marijuana businesses to open and a $4.2 million city deficit, has agreed to step down to take a State Senate seat. Delgado won the special election for a State Senate seat, though finished out of the money in third place for the general election. There was discussion of her not taking the Senate seat for the short time period in order to keep the mayor's job.

Ohio: Cleveland Councilman recall effort fails

The recall effort against Councilman Basheer Jones failed -- no signatures were handed in. Jones was targeted after less than seven months in office. Petitioners needed 676 signatures to get on the ballot.

California: Two-time recall official tries to run for two seats, will be stopped from running for any

Larry Duncan, who was recalled from the Paradise Town Council in 1991 and the Paradise Irrigation District Board in 2017, is being prevented from running for both offices at once. The issue appears to be filing for two offices at once and missing the deadline to withdraw from just one.

Alaska: Ketchikan School Board President resigns

School Board President Trevor Shaw resigned before his October 2nd recall vote. The recall was over complaints about health insurance premiums, teacher contract negotiations and the public meeting atmosphere appears to have met the signature requirement. Petitioners handed in over 700 signatures and need 540. They got 640.

Georgia: Walthourville Mayor and Councilwoman recall fails

The recall effort against Mayor Daisy Pray and Councilwoman Patricia Green over allegations of unethical conduct and misappropriating funds and property failed. Petitioners handed in 150 signatures, but 33 were struck. There were questions about whether the circulators violated the law.A former Police Chief Bernie Quaterman, who was suspended twice and relived of duty by Pray, circulated petitions (he is not a registered voter in the city, which they claim prevents him from circulating the petitions. This may not be accurate according to other laws that I've seen).

Friday, August 10, 2018

Texas: El Paso Mayor facing recall effort

Mayor Dee Margo is facing a recall effort over a kitchen sink group of claims (failure to stop tax increases, using personal emails for city business, violating free speech). Petitioner would need about 6500 signatures to get on the ballot.

Wisconsin: Big Bend Village Board Trustee facing petitions

Trustee Jeff Goodman is facing a recall effort over entering fire and water contract negotiations without the village president or clerk/treasurer present. Petitioners, which includes former trustees, need 165 signatures. They claim to have 207 in hand.

California: Petitions approved against Montebello Mayor, Councilman

Petitions have been approved for the recall effort against Mayor Vanessa Delgado and Councilman Jack Hadjinian. It took four attempts to get the petitions approved. The issue is votes to allow marijuana businesses to open and a $4.2 million city deficit. Petitioners would need about 6000 signatures.

Delgado is in an interesting situation -- she finished in the top two in the special election for a State Senate seat, though finished out of the money in third place for the general election. So she may be elected to the state Senate in November, but may refuse the seat because taking office for the short time period would force her to give up the Mayor job.

Thursday, August 9, 2018

Alaska: Petitions handed in against Ketchikan School Board President

Petitions were handed in against School Board President Trevor Shaw over complaints about health insurance premiums, teacher contract negotiations and the public meeting atmosphere. Petitioners handed in over 700 signatures and need 540.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Pennsylvania: Gregory Harvey, leader of effort to recall Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo, dies

Harvey led the effort to collect 141,000 signatures -- they got 211,000. However, the recall effort was tossed out by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Texas: Windcrest recall effort leads to dispute over validity of signatures

The recall efforts against Mayor Dan Reese and Council members Frank Archuelta and Joan Pedrotti is now being debated as petitioners claim they have enough signatures, but the city attorney refused to certify stating that a number of citizens denied the signing, which would cause the petitions to fall short. However, there are questions of whether the names can be stricken after signing.

Petitioners handed in between 437-452 signatures. They need 421.

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Colorado: Dolores School Board President Resigns; One other member facing October 9 recall vote

School Board President Dee Prock resigned after signatures were handed in. The recall was to be scheduled for October 9. Board member Vangi McCoy will be facing the voters that day. The issue appears to be claims that the school has dropped in rankings.

Monday, August 6, 2018

New Mexico: Las Cruces Voting on city charter changes to recall creating malfeasance standard

Las Cruces is looking to change the recall from a political recall to a malfeasance standard/judicial recall one -- effectively, making it so that there needs to be a showing of malfeasance in order to get on the ballot. This change would put the city in line with state law and would be one of the few municipalities to make such a change to recall law.

The changes would also put in a  60 day time period, eliminate the amended petition process, let people strike their names, and let the City Council review petitions for compliance with the law.

Michigan: Macomb Township Trustee facing recall petitions has not attended meeting since November 8

The recall effort against Trustee Dino Bucci following his indictment on federal corruption charges and his failure to attend Trustee meetings, failed. Petitioners needed  since November 8. 6900 signatures, but they only got about 3100. There is still a push to get the Governor to remove him.

Sunday, August 5, 2018

California: Del Norte Supervisors facing petitions led by former Chair of Cannabis Working Group

Petitioners will not be getting the recalls against Crescent City Council Mayor Pro Tem Heidi Kime and Supervisors Rodger Gitlin, Lori Cowan and Bob Berkowitz on the November ballot. The recall efforts have been criticized for not having an issue around it, though past coverage noted that they are led by the former head of the Del Norte County Cannabis Working Group, so a good chance that it revolves around cannabis/marijuana regulation issues.

Update: No signatures were handed in by the deadline.

California: Lemoore City Councilmember facing recall effort

Councilmember Holly Blair is facing petitions over her council report which "brought up the personal lives" of the Police Chief, City Manager and their children.  The council looks to be passing a censure of Blair.

Petitioners need 2527 signatures. BEcause Blair was elected in an all-city election, any resident could sign.

Friday, August 3, 2018

North Dakota: Three Richland School Board lose recall vote

School Board members Lisa Amundson, Josh Mjoness and Sarah Myers lost their recall elections yesterday over investigations of alleged sexual misconduct by students and basketball players. The Superintendent has been put on administrative leave. Amundson lost to Amy Lehmann 233-157; Mjoness lost to Scott Hendrickson 205-155; and Myers lost to Jody Lingen 208-122.

Ohio: Solon Councilman facing recall efforts

Councilman Jeremy Zelwin is facing a recall effort over a $200 million winery project and a $1 million rails-to-trails plan.

Oregon: Wheeler County Commissioner facing August 28 recall vote

Commissioner Robert Ordway (R) is facing an August 28 recall vote over complaints about the sale of a rock crusher, a garbage truck and abstaining from certain votes. Petitioners needed 123 signatures, they handed in 151. Ordway would be replaced by an appointed Republican.

Michigan: Algonac Mayor Recall on the Election Day ballot

Mayor Eileen Tesch is facing an Election Day recall after petitioners handed in 391 valid signatures. They needed 350. The issue appears to be a move to have signatures gatherers against two other councilmembers removed from a meeting. Those two councilmembers, Irene Bird and Joe Nugent, resigned before a November vote.

Thursday, August 2, 2018

Arizona: Holbrook Mayor, City Councilman facing Election Day recall

Mayor Bobby Tyler and Councilman CJ Wischmann are facing a November 6 recall. Petitioners collected 162 signatures for Tyler -- they needed 109, and 153 for Wischmann, they needed 126.

Colorado: Fremont County Sheriff, target of 2017 recall effort, resigns

Sheriff Jim Beicker (R), who was targeted for a recall in 2017 over the confiscation of horses in an alleged animal cruelty case, a civil lawsuit of a the death of an inmate and a Lieutenant who was facing charges of misconduct and abuse of public records for keeping evidence to an old homicide in a storage unit, resigned. Petitioners could not get the 4166 signatures at the time.

Wisconsin: Flambeau School Board members targeted in recall

School Board Members Patrick Anderson, Sam Stewart and Danielle Zimmer are facing recall threats over claims of disrespectful comments and a host of other complaints.

Wisconsin: Dover Town Chairman ousted in recall vote

Chairman Mario Lena was ousted in a recall vote over claims of unprofessional conduct. Lena was censured and he accused past chairmen of embezzlement and fraud. Lena lost to Town Supervisor Sam Stratton -- 319-175-90 (for former town supervisor Dean Larsen). Stratton needed an absolute majority to avoid a run-off. His seat now has to be filled.

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Massachusetts: Rockland Selectman resigns over investigation into other officials' inappropriate behavior

Selectman Ed Kimball has resigned in the face of a recall threat from former selectman Mary A. Parsons over a complicated investigation.

Selectman Deidre Hall, who also has since resigned, has been accused of pressuring Town Administrator Allan Chiocca into sexual activities because she would be voting on his contract extension and salary increase (Hall has since resigned). The investigation substantiated the allegations, but Kimball called the investigation a sham.

UK: Petitions against MP Paisley to start on August 8

Petitions against MP Ian Paisley over his failure to declare luxury holidays in Sri Lanka are set to start on August 8. Petitioners need 7547 signatures to get the by-election going.