Oklahoma: Norman City Council recall tossed out due to Supreme Court decision

The recall effort against  Norman City Councilmember Alison Petrone has been tossed out by the Oklahoma Supreme Court due to its recent ruling in the Enid recall.  The court held that the municipal recall form needed an affidavit attesting to valid signatures and a warning against fraud. There are claims of voter fraud in the signature gathering process.

The recall effort appeared to get enough valid signatures to get on the ballot. Petitioners handed in 3444 signatures and had 2580 valid. 2573 were needed. 

An earlier recall against Mayor Breea Clark failed, as petitioners handed in 20661 and needed 18,124. Over 3600 signatures had 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 pandemic.

One other wrinkle -- Petrone is up for her regularly scheduled election a month later.