Virginia: Portsmouth Council looking to increase signatures needed for recall effort

Portsmouth officials are looking to change the law to make it harder to kick out officials, including raising the amount of signatures needed for a recall. 

The big change is not with a recall, but instead a provision in the city charter that can result in an official losing their seat if they give "orders to an employee of the city manager or directing the city manager to appoint, hire or fire employees." Currently, the provision results in a misdemeanor and forcing them to lose their seat. The change would put it as a civil penalty. Councilwoman Lisa Lucas-Burke faced charges that were tossed out under this provision over comments about the former Police Chief.

Presumably, this also has something to do with the Senate President Pro Temp Louise Lucas (D) recall attempt.