Kiowa School Board members Kurt Wassil, Stephanie Buker and Stacy Morgan are facing recall efforts over complaints of misusing funds and low staff morale/fear among staff members. Petitioners need 244 signatures by November 13.
Who Will Be the Next Victim of the Grand Bounce? A nonpartisan, nonjudgmental look at the “Hair-Trigger” Form of Government
Sunday, September 27, 2020
Massachusetts: Holyoke City Council Charter and Rules Committee recommends recall election law
The Holyoke City Council's Charter and Rules Committee is recommending the passage of a recall election law for the city. The City Council is voting on the provision on October 6, and then will require the state legislature to approve it. Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, who recently lost a race for Congress against Ways & Means Chairman Richard Neal, faced a recall effort after heavily disputed claims of inappropriate behavior during his time as a lecturer at UMass.
City Councilor Mike Sullivan, Linda Vacon, David Bartley and Howard Greaney Jr. are all co-sponsoring an order to allow for the recall. Several attempts to enact a recall were rejected by Morse.
In 2017, the mayor's term moved from 2 to 4 years, but he refused to sign a plan to also put in a recall law.
Petitioners would need 500 signatures. There is a 12 month grace period at the end of the term, petitioners would need 10% in 30 days.
Friday, September 25, 2020
Washington: Look back at the 1970 Tacoma Council recall
Here and here's coverage of the event where five councilmembers were kicked out.
Michigan: Petition language approved against Secretary of State, rejected against Attorney General
Petition language was approved for a recall effort against Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D), though a petition against Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) was rejected due to factualness and clarity reasons. Petitioners need more than 1 million signatures to get on the ballot.
The petition against Benson is over mailing postcards to voters encouraging them to apply for vote from home ballots in November.
The Nessel recall was over complaints over enforcement of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions at long-term care facilities.
There are also recall efforts against Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II as well as multiple attempts against Nessel.
Texas: Signatures handed in for Granite Shoals Mayor and Councilor
Petitioners have turned in 222 signatures for the recall effort against Granite Shoals Mayor Carl Brugger and Councilor Bruce Jones. Petitioners need 152 signatures (6.5 percent of registered voters) to get on the ballot.
The recall is over a vote to give the City Manager a raise. Two councilmembers tried to rescind it but failed in a 5-2 vote.
Jones is running unopposed for reelection on the November ballot. Brugger is term limited.
Wisconsin: Omro Town Board Chair facing October 20th recall vote -- Update: Noe survives vote
Omro Town Board Chair Brian Noe is facing a recall vote on October 20th, which will be a primary vote. If there are two candidates, there will be a special general election on November 17th. Don't see anything about what the recall is about.
Update: Noe survived the vote 240-236 for Sherry Seaman
Louisiana: Bunkie Mayor and Police Chief facing petitions
Bunkie Mayor Bruce Coulon and Police Chief Scotty Ferguson are facing a recall effort after battles over towing companies.
Thursday, September 24, 2020
Minnesota: Third petition filed against Governor over stay in place rules
A third recall petition has been taken out against Governor Tim Walz (D), once again over shelter-in-place rules instituted to fight the spread of the coronavirus. State Representative Jeremy Munson is a moderator on the recall effort Facebook page.
The first two petitions filed against Walz were rejected by the Minnesota Supreme Court. Minnesota is a malfeasance standard state and would require petitioners to meet a stringent requirement of malfeasance to get on the ballot. Minnesota has generally reject all recalls since its state law was approved in 1996. However, in 2018 there was a recall against Tracy Councilman Tony Peterson (he survived the vote).
Nebraska: Crawford Mayor facing January recall election
Crawford Mayor Connie Shell is facing a recall vote in January over general complaints of "self-serving behavior, including allegations that she threatened Chamber of Commerce members with personal lawsuits. Petitioners handed in 160 signatures. They got at least 138 and needed 133.
Michigan: Petition language approved against Grosse Pointe School Board members
Petitions language has now been approved against Grosse Pointe School Board President Magaret Weertz and Trustee Chris Lee after previously being rejected on clarity grounds. The complaint focused on contract votes to reconfigure schools and renew the superintendent's contract. According to the board members, the vote took place after the district shrunk in size. Petitioners need 7646 signatures to get on the ballot.
Arizona: Kingman Mayor and councilmembers facing recall over coronavirus pandemic mask requirements
Kingman Mayor Jen Miles and Councilmembers David Wayt, James Scott Stehly, SueAnn Mello Keener and Ken Watkins are facing recall efforts over their vote to continue mask covering requirement to combat the coronavirus pandemic until October 20. Two other councilmembers who voted against the protective mask requirements are not facing recall efforts.
Petitioners need 1438 signatures for the councilmembers by January 19 and 1384 for the Mayor by January 12.
Michigan: Hamtramck Councilman facing recall effort
Hamtramck Councilman Ian Perrotta is facing recall efforts led by six current and former council members, including Councilman Mohammed Hassan (who put out a press release). Perrotta was recently censured by the council for allegedly bullying and harassing an employee. He also was previously almost censured for a comment on the immigrant population.
Monday, September 21, 2020
Oklahoma: Lawton Mayor and Council member facing petitions over pandemic response
Lawton Mayor Stan Booker and Councilman Jay Burk are facing recall efforts over city laws mandating the use of masking and shut-downs due to the need to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Japan: Yokohama Mayoral recall kicked off
Yokohama Mayor Fumiko Hayashi is facing a recall effort over a plan for an integrated resot. Petitioners need about 500,000 signatures.
Georgia: Signatures handed in against Blackshear Council member
Petitioners have handed in 98 signatures for the recall of Blackshear Council member Shawn Godwin. They need 89 valids. Petitioners already passed the first stage of the recall, handing in 30 signatures.
Council members Linda Gail Dennison and Timmy Sapp were also facing recall petitions, with the council holding a hearing on the charges. Two former mayors have signed the petitions. The issue appears to be their initial opposition to the hiring of the City Clerk. There's also a kitchen sink of other complaints over meeting attendance, open meeting violations and claims of censorship on social media.
Georgia is a malfeasance standard/judicial recall state, so a showing of cause is needed. I haven't seen any discussion of whether this has already occurred.
Colorado: Westminster Mayor and Councilmembers facing recall effort over water bill rates
Westminster Mayor Herb Atchison and Councilmembers Anita Seitz, Kathryn Skulley and Jon Voelz are facing recall efforts over water bills. Petitioners would need 25% of turnout, which is 5009 signatures for Atchison and 6,098 for the three council members.
Oklahoma: Petitioners validated against Norman City Councilmember; Mayoral recall effort appears to have failed
The recall effort against Norman City Councilmember Alison Petrone got enough valid signatures to get on the ballot. Petitioners handed in 3444 signatures and had 2580 valid. 2573 were needed.
Petitions against Mayor Breea Clark seemed to have failed -- they handed in 20661 and needed 18,124. Over 3600 signatures have been tossed out.
City Councilwoman Sereta Wilson previously resigned in the face of the recall threat. It seems that they haven't handed in signatures against two other councilmembers who were threatened, City Council members Kate Bierman and Stephen Holman.
The recall is over a vote to cut the police department's proposed budget by $865,000 (it appears not to be an actual cut -- the police wanted a big increase and got only a smaller one). There are also complaints about the council's push to require masks to stave off the coronavirus.
Petrone is up for her regularly scheduled election a month later.
The petitioners asked for a 10 day extension due to claims of harassment, though it was denied as not being provided for in the law.
Washington: Seattle City Council member recall approved by Judge
A judge has approved a recall effort against Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant (the first socialist elected to Seattle's council in 100 years). Two of the six charges were dismissed.
The recall effort was over a kitchen sink of complaints, including revealing the mayor's home address, giving decision-making authority to Socialist Alternative (which has been a complaint against her before, though it was dismissed by the Ethics and Election Commission), promoting a ballot initiative, letting protesters in City Hall after hours and helping to create a criminal environment.
Petitioners would need over 10,700 signatures to get on the ballot. Washington is also a "malfeasance standard/judicial recall state", so a recall effort needed to get approval to get on the ballot.
Update: Sawant has appealed to the Supreme Court.
California: Anaheim Mayor facing new recall effort
A new recall effort is being discussed against Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu over rent control increases and proposed changes. There are also complaints about Angel Stadium negotiations. Petitioners would need more than 14000 signatures to get on the ballot.
Oklahoma: Enid Commissioner recall set for February 9
The recall effort against Enid Commissioner Ben Ezzell has now been set for February 9, 2021.
The recall date will be on the same day as the new elections for commissioner. Ezzell is termed out, so the race will be focused on the last three months of his term.
The issue was Ezzell's support for the city to enforce the state's COVID-19 alert system and his criticism of the police chief for a failure to enforce a mask mandate proposal designed to combat the pandemic.
Update: A judge has rejected an attempt to throw out the recall.
Virginia: Staunton Mayor and Councilmembers facing recall effort
Staunton Mayor Andrea Oakes, Vice Mayor Mark Robertson, and councilmembers Stephen Claffey and Amy Darby are all facing recall efforts over a kitchen sink of complaints, such as outside influences, lack of accountability and misusing city funds for a July 4 parade.
Michigan: New recall effort against Flint Councilman
Flint City Councilman Allan Griggs is facing a recall effort over a planned assisted-living facility. Griggs previously faced a failed recall effort that did not get on the ballot. Former mayoral candidate Don Pfeiffer is leading the recall effort.
Update: The language was rejected and petitioners are trying again.
Update 2: The language has been approved.
Florida: Three Sebastian City Council members kicked out in recall race
All three Sebastian City Council members, Damien Gilliams (5920-425), Charles Mauti (5780-537) and Pamela Parris (5935-397), were kicked out in a recall effort on September 15. Christopher Nunn, Bob McPartlan and Fred Jones won the replacement races.
Arizona: Lake Havasu School Board President facing recall of use of the 1619 Project
Lake Havasu School Board President Lisa Roman is facing recall threats over a debate about a curriculum changes surrounding the New York Times 1619 Project. Board member Nichole Cohen has been opposed to adopting some of the 1619 Project curriculum (1619 is the year when slaves were first brought to the US).
Texas: Austin Mayor and three City Council members targeted in recall
More discussion on the recall effort against of Austin Mayor Steve Adler (D) and city councilmembers Sabino Renteria, Ann Kitchen and Paige Ellis. The other two members facing a reelection race in November. The issue seems to be votes on homeless and police department funding. Petitioners need about 66,000 signatures to get Adler on the ballot.
Sunday, September 20, 2020
Michigan: Three Oconomowoc School Board members facing recall efforts
Three Oconomowoc School Board members, Kim Herro, Scott Roehl and Juliet Steitzer, are facing recall petitions. The issue is the school board vote against face-to-face instruction during the coronavirus pandemic.
Petitioners would need about 5500 signatures. Steitzer is up for reelection in the fall regardless. The other two school board members have not served the required year before petitions can be taken out.
Missouri: Kansas City Mayor recall effort fails
The recall effort against Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas failed, with petitioners not handing in signatures. The recall was over the extension of the mask mandate to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
As Tony KC's site notes, Kansas City's recall law is a malfeasance standard/judicial recall one, which would seem to present a very high bar to get on the ballot. Note that Missouri recall provisions allowing it for charter cities also has a malfeasance standard.
Petitioners needed 13,393 signatures in 30 days to get on the ballot.
West Virginia: Petitions out against two Fairmont Councilmen for racist comments
Fairmont Councilmen David Kennedy and Barry Bledsoe are now facing petitions following repeated comments alleged to be racist and derogatory against LGBTQ+ people, some in Facebook posts. Bledsoe's alleged to have called Senator and VP nominee Kamala Harris a "hoe" and called a state Delegate "satanic." Kennedy has been censured by the council (6-3 vote) and has faced calls for his resignation.
Petitioners had to redo the wording to get it approved. They will need 2461 signatures (20% of registered voters).
Arizona: Second petition taken out against Governor
A second petition has been filed against Governor Doug Ducey (R) has been hit with a recall petition over his response to the coronavirus pandemic. Unlike the earlier petition (which has since failed), which was taken out by people opposed to the stay-at-home orders, the latest one has been filed by petitioners who claim that Ducey's response took too long and Ducey reopened the state too quickly.
Petitioners would need over 594,111 signatures in 120 days.
California: More on third recall effort against Governor
Petitioners are making a concerted effort on the recall against California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), though the latest report notes that they have only 55,326 signatures out of a required 1,45,709.
Idaho: Three Pocatello/Chubbuck School Board Trustees facing recall effort
Pocatello/Chubbuck School Board Trustees Jackie Cranor, Janie Gebhardt and Dave Mattson are facing recall efforts from parents pushing for full time learning models in schools. The board has moved for a hybrid learning model. The recall can't get to the ballot before May 2021.
Saturday, September 12, 2020
Oregon: Signatures handed in against Oregon City Mayor
Petitioners handed in 2467 signatures for the recall of Oregon City Mayor Dan Holladay over his opposition to the stay at home order and complaining about the protests following the killing of George Floyd. The previous two mayors (who supported Holladay) have signed a letter calling the behavior "disturbing."
Petitioners need 1828 signatures.Louisiana: Columnist calls for recall effort against New Orleans Mayor
Following the announced effort against Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, (D) a columnist is also calling for the recall of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell (D). The columnist also notes that several Republican legislators are facing recall efforts, but I've seen no stories about this.
Maine: Petitions taking out against Caribou City Councilor
Caribou City Councilor Doug Morrell is facing a recall effort. No word on what the recall is about. Petitioners would need 1112 signatures in 60 business days. A recall would be held as a special election in February 2021.
Update: The signature effort failed. Petitioners claim to have gathered 1059 signatures, but only had 15 submitted and verified. The recall appeared to be over a legal question of whether Morrell was up-to-date on his taxes.
Friday, September 11, 2020
Nevada: Four separate recall petitions to be filed against Governor
Two groups have filed new petitions against Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak (D) and two others are expected to start new petitions in the coming weeks. This comes after a failed recall effort, where petitioners claimed that they got over 33,000 signatures, and needed 243,995. Petitioners will not be able to combine the petitions into one.
The recall efforts are a kitchen sink of complaints, the coronavirus pandemic response, the economic shutdown, gun control, private well limits, DMV policy and an (apparently false) claim that he supports an income tax. The previous attempt floundered after a judge rejected an attempt to get an extension for the recall effort due to the stay at home orders.
Wisconsin: Madison Mayor recall effort fails
The recall effort against Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway failed, with petitioners handing in 53 signatures out of about 36,000 needed to get on the ballot. The recall was over a kitchen sink of issues, including budget shortfalls, a wheel tax and the handling of recent protests.
Nevada: Petitioners against Las Vegas City Councilwoman fails
The recall effort against Las Vegas Councilwoman Michele Fiore (R) has failed. Petitioners submitted 567 signatures a month and a half ago (they turned it in after the first 45 days of petitioning. The recall effort has 90 days to collect the signatures). Petitioners need 1911 to get on the ballot.
Washington: State Supreme Court to give a "rapid review" for Benton County Sheriff recall petition
The Washington State Supreme Court has agreed to a "rapid review" of the recall effort against Benton County Sheriff Jerry Hatcher, with the nine judges set to review the recall effort by November 5. Previously a judge had green lit a recall effort, ruling that petitioners have met Washington's malfeasance standard on eight charges.
The Deputy Sheriff's Guild membership was leading the way. An independent investigator found that Hatcher retaliated against a whistleblower and two witnesses and engaged in anti-union activity.
Hatcher also has run into personal issues with his wife filing a civil protection order claiming that he choked her during a fight over his extramarital affairs. The order meant he had to surrender his firearm. He also was previously charged with felony witness tampering and assault, though chargers were dismissed.
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Colorado: Avon Mayor, Councilmembers targeted
The recall attempt against Mayor Sarah Smith Hymes, Avon Councilmembers Amy Phillips, Tamra Underwood over leaving a real estate transfer tax in place is still ongoing. Petitioners need 479 signatures to get on the ballot.
Oklahoma: Hearing on Enid Commissioner recall delayed until October
The hearing for the recall election of Enid Commissioner Ben Ezzell has now been delayed until October. The recall itself has been delayed until February 9, 2021 as the city commissioners tabled the vote (there is no provision for Special Elections).
Texas: Granite Shoals Mayor and Councilor recall misses November ballot
The recall effort against Granite Shoals Mayor Carl Brugger and Councilor Bruce Jones has missed the deadline to get on the November ballot, but petitioners are still collecting to get on for May 2021. The recall is over a vote to give the City Manager a raise. Two councilmembers tried to rescind it but failed in a 5-2 vote.
Jones is running unopposed for reelection on the November ballot. Petitioners need 152 signatures (6.5 percent of registered voters) to get on the ballot. They claim to have 162.
Sunday, September 6, 2020
Maine: Hope voters look to enact recall provisions
Petitioners are gathering signatures that would put up for a November 3 vote on a ballot ordinance allowing for a recall in Hope. Petitioners would need 10 percent of the last gubernatorial vote (96) to get a recall on the ballot.
The big issue that seems to opening up the recall effort was a controversy over how to deal with road work and snow removal.
Arizona: Look back at recalls in Surprise
A look back at the history of Surprise, Arizona notes that in 2004, the city saw a split decision, where Councilman Don Cox lost to Cliff Elkins and Councilman Bob Vukanovich lost to Joe Johnson. A third councilman, Gary "Doc" Sullivan, survived the vote.
In 1987, Mayor George Cumbie was facing recall petitions.
Idaho: Boise Mayor, Councilmember recall effort suspended
The recall effort against Boise Mayor Lauren McLean (D) and Councilmember Lisa Sanchez has now been suspended, as petitioners have found that signatures are too difficult to collect.
Petitioners need 26,108 signatures in 75 days.
Idaho also has a Queen of the Hill provision requiring that for the recall to succeed, the total vote cast in the election must top the amount of votes cast for the office in the previous election. In McLean's case, they would need 23,669 and Sanchez would need 9,244 votes.
Petitioners originally focused on the shutdowns that have occurred as part of the pandemic response. They have now included a larger list, focused on a transition team report, which they call a "radical agenda" (citing discussion of sanctuary city, abortions and sex ed). Sanchez has also been criticized for a letter about an 18-year old who fired his gun during an Idaho State Capitol protest.
There was an attempt to recall Governor Brad Little, but it failed.
Friday, September 4, 2020
Michigan: Two Governor recall efforts approved
Two recall petitions have been approved against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D), though this article notes that the recall effort can be a big boon to Whitmer (as she can get unlimited donations to fight the recall).
The petitioner cited the COVID-19 shut downs. Petitioners would need 1,062,647 signatures to get on the ballot, and thanks to changes in the law enacted by the GOP-led legislatures in 2012, a removal of Whitmer would simply lead to the elevation of the Lieutenant Governor.
There is also an attempt to recall the Attorney General Dana Nessel (D), though no word on how that has worked.Ohio: Leader of Barberton Mayor recall effort claims threats
Kim Trenary, the lead petitioner in the recall effort against Barberton Mayor William Judge, claims to have been threatened during signature gathering efforts. The lead petitioner is former city council candidate Kim Trenary. The recall effort started over the loss of an industrial manufacturer.
If the recall would succeed, the City Council President becomes Mayor until the next election. This stories doesn't make it clear how many signatures are needed, though petitioner claims it is about 800. There is also a requirement that signers voted in the previous election.
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
California: Del Norte School Board dropped
Petitioners have abandoned a recall effort against Del Norte County Unified School District Board Members Frank Magarino, Don McArthur, Angela Greenough and Jamie Forkner due to difficulty collecting signatures during the coronavirus pandemic. The lead petitioner was a former Teachers Association representative over faculty contract negotiations.
Montana: Judge rejects Helena Mayor and City Commissioners recall petitions
A District Court Judge has stopped the recall effort against Helena Mayor Wilmot Collins and City Commissioners Andres Haladay and Heather O'Loughlin, ruling that the recall does not meet the malfeasance standard.
Petitioners needed about 4300 signatures (20% of registered voters) in 90 days. Since Montana is a malfeasance standard/judicial recall state, the petition language must meet the for cause requirement and be approved by a judge to get on the ballot. The claim is that the decision to hire an interim city manager was made without proper public input and the input of the full council.
Update: Collins is running for reelection.
Florida: Sebastian City Council recall payment source of controversy
There was some controversy about paying for the upcoming recall election against Sebastian City Council members Damien Gilliams, Charles Mauti and Pamela Parris on September 15. The City Manager sent over a $40,000 check without board approval, though the city manager noted that since there was a contract in place, there was no need for the board to vote.
Massachusetts: Reading Select Board Chair survives recall vote
Reading Select Board Chair Vanessa Alvarado survived a recall vote on primary day, 3831-5641. The issue seems to be questions regarding the search for a new police chef. The leader of the petition driver was former Select Board member John Arena (who lost to Alvarado two years ago). Turnout was 48.3 percent.
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
Georgia: Group formed to recall Governor over coronavirus pandemic actions
A group is looking to take out petitions to recall Governor Brian Kemp (R) over his refusal to mandate masks, and attempt to stop cities that did, during the coronavirus pandemic. Kemp joins nine other governors who have been targeted, though he is unusual in that he is facing it for his actions preventing shutdowns, rather than enforcing them.
No word on how many signatures would be needed. However, due to the fact that Georgia is a malfeasance standard/judicial recall state and would need a showing of statutory cause to get on the ballot, petitioners would have a big hurdle to overcome.
Louisiana: Petitions filed against Governor
Petitions have been filed against Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards (D), though it's not clear what the recall is about. Petitioners would need over 600,000 signatures in 180 days. This is the first gubernatorial recall threatened since Louisiana loosened its recall laws. The state formally required 33 1/3 % registered voter signature to get on the ballot. Now, it is only 20%.
Update: Edwards responds to the recall, noting that it is not keeping him up at night.
Idaho: Boise Mayor, Councilmember recall effort won't make November ballot
A recall effort against Boise Mayor Lauren McLean (D) and Councilmember Lisa Sanchez will not be on the November ballot. Petitioners need 26,108 signatures in 75 days. The next election would be in March.
Idaho also has a Queen of the Hill provision requiring that for the recall to succeed, the total vote cast in the election must top the amount of votes cast for the office in the previous election. In McLean's case, they would need 23,669 and Sanchez would need 9,244 votes.
Petitioners originally focused on the shutdowns that have occurred as part of the pandemic response. They have now included a larger list, focused on a transition team report, which they call a "radical agenda" (citing discussion of sanctuary city, abortions and sex ed). Sanchez has also been criticized for a letter about an 18-year old who fired his gun during an Idaho State Capitol protest.
There was an attempt to recall Governor Brad Little, but it failed.
Oregon: Republicans announce that latest Governor recall effort fails to get enough signatures
The Oregon Republican Party has announced that it failed to get enough signatures for the recall of Oregon Governor Kate Brown (D). They claim to have 277,254 signatures and they needed 280,050 valids. Since they would likely have needed many more than that to get on the ballot (signature failure rates range across a wide-spectrum, but 10-15% is a good measure), it is not clear how close they got. They previous attested to having 290,000. Petitioners are blaming the coronavirus pandemic social distancing restrictions for the failure.
This was the fifth failed attempt against Brown.