UK: Conservative MP facing calls for recall over lobbying

Conservative MP Owen Paterson is facing calls for a recall, with the House of Commons set to suspend him for 30 days for lobbying on behalf of Randox and Lynn's Country Foods (he worked for them as a paid consultant). UK has a malfeasance standard requiring the official to be convicted -- though face less than a year in prison -- or be suspended by a parliamentary committee for at least 10 days. Petitioners need 10% of registered voters to sign for the recall to go to the ballot.

Update: Paterson resigned. 

UK: Conservative MP escapes recall for sexual harassment/misconduct charges due to loophole

A Conservative MP, Rob Roberts, has escaped facing a recall effort due to an unusual loophole in the rules. Roberts was accused of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct. He was suspended by an independent panel. However, because the suspension was not enacted by a parliamentary committee, Roberts was not eligible for a recall (UK has a particular standard, requiring the official to be convicted -- though face less than a year in prison -- or be suspended by a parliamentary committee for at least 10 days). The Conservative Party is looking into closing the loophole.

Hawaii: Maui Mayor facing petitions over efforts to combat the pandemic spread

Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino is facing recall efforts over mandates designed to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Petitioners have also claimed some other issues (water needs/housing/transparency), but the story suggests that it is clearly a COVID recall.

Petitioners need 21,586 signatures (20% of registereds) in 30 days. 

I do not know of a single recall that has gotten to the ballot in Hawaii. 

Washington: Judge tosses out recall effort against Central Valley School Board members

A Spokane County Superior Court judge has tossed out the recall effort against Central Valley School District President Debra Long and Directors Cynthia McMullen and Keith Clark. The petitions claimed that the districts masking and vaccine rules (which are state rules) to fight the coronavirus pandemic are a violation of the ADA, and also claimed that Long lives outside the district for the last nine years (she has been on the board since 2003). 

Washington is a malfeasance standard/judicial recall state and the judge has to approve the petition (which must show a violation of the law). 

The lead petitioner, Rob Linebarger, is a candidate for the school board, though he has endorsed his opponent in the race. It sounds like he will not attempt an appeal. 

California: Poway Mayor facing recall effort

Poway Mayor Steve Vaus is facing a recall effort over claims that he violated the Political Reform Act and complaints about an annual fundraising concert. The focus seems to be development issues. 

Petitioners need 6651 signatures by February 17.  Chris Olps, who lost three council runs, is a leader of the recall. 

Vaus, who won a Grammy as a country singer, was a leader of the 2009 recall effort against Councilwoman Betty Rexford. 

Update: Recall failed, as petitioners did not turn in signatures. 

Alaska: Anchorage Assembly member beating back recall in early results

Anchorage Assembly member Meg Zaletel appears to be easily beating back the recall election against  held on October 26, with 60% of the vote in her favor after 10,600 votes have been counted.

Anchorage Assembly Chair Felix Rivera defeated a recall in April. The issue seems to be the same -- over a meeting which, due to the size of the audience, violated the emergency order limiting crowds during the coronavirus pandemic (there may have been 17 people at the meeting, which had a limit of 15). Petitioners seem to be opposed to masking requirements and other efforts to combat the pandemic.

There is also an ongoing attempt is to recall Anchorage Assembly Member Jamie Allard.

California: Petitioners hand in 83K+ signatures for SF District Attorney recall, over 30K cushion

Petitioners look to be in a very strong position to get the recall effort against San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin on the ballot, as they handed in over 83,487 signatures. They need 51,325 valids. This should put them well in the safety category. 

The recall (San Franciscans for Public Safety) is led by local Democrats Mary Jung (the former chair of the local Democratic Party) and Andrea Shorter.

A first recall effort against Boudin failed, with petitioners claiming that they were1714 signatures short (though that is before verification, so it could be a lot less).

This first recall was led by former Republican Mayoral candidate Richie Greenberg (though Greenberg said he was replaced as head of the effort). It was considered the "Republican" recall. The recall is over complaints over lenient treatment of criminals. Recall efforts kicked into high gear after a convict who was arrested on suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle and violating probation was released without bail and then ran over two women while running a red light. 

 

Taiwan: Taiwan Statebuilding Party Legislator Ousted in Recall

Taiwan Legislator Chen Po-Wei (pro-independence Taiwan Statebuilding Party) was ousted in a recall election on October 23 vote, 77,899-73,433 looking for removal. Petitioners needed to not only win the election, but turnout needed to top 25% of registered voters in the district, which seems to be 73,744. Turnout was at 51.72%. Frequently, in these "absentee veto" recalls, the total is completely one-sided, as the opposition doesn't vote to deprive the recall proponents of the turnout needed. This case was clearly different. 

The replacement race will be held in three months.

 The KMT is supporting the recall and has made it an issue in the ongoing difficulties with China. This is also seen as part of a "revenge recalls" over the ouster of Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-Yuto.

A vote would require 25% turnout (72,281) to succeed (as well as actually winning that vote). 

Chen is the first member of his party to win a seat, beating a local dynasty in 2020. 

California: Petitioners days away from deadline in San Francisco District Attorney recall effort

Petitioners are coming down to the wire in the recall effort against San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, though organizers have not revealed how many signatures they have, though they said that the gathering is over. Petitioners need 51,325 signatures by October 25.

The recall (San Franciscans for Public Safety) is led by local Democrats Mary Jung (the former chair of the local Democratic Party) and Andrea Shorter.

A first recall effort against Boudin failed, with petitioners claiming that they were1714 signatures short (though that is before verification, so it could be a lot less).

This first recall was led by former Republican Mayoral candidate Richie Greenberg (though Greenberg said he was replaced as head of the effort). It was considered the "Republican" recall. The recall is over complaints over lenient treatment of criminals. Recall efforts kicked into high gear after a convict who was arrested on suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle and violating probation was released without bail and then ran over two women while running a red light. 

 

California: Shasta County Supervisor recall makes the ballot, vote scheduled for February 8

The recall of Shasta County Supervisor Leonard Moty has gotten to the ballot. Petitioners handed in 6032 signatures. They need 4308 valids to get on the ballot and got 4476. The recall has been scheduled for February 8, 2022. 

No signatures were handed against Supervisors Mary Rickert (4432 needed) and Joe Chimenti (4392 needed). The recall is over the Supervisors support for restrictions to fight the Covid pandemic. Petitioners claim they will restart the recall effort against Rickert and Chimenti, though they presumably would have to start from scratch and Chimenti's up for reelection in June. 

Here's a vastly more detailed look at the fight. There is also a claim that the recall proponents have copied their logo from the QAnon logo. Supervisor Patrick Jones joined the petitioners in their handing in the signatures.  

The cost for a recall election is estimated is between $200,000 and $400,000.

Nebraska: Waverly School Board President facing petitions

Waverly School Board President Andy Grosshans is facing petitions over his support for measures to stop the coronavirus pandemic. Petitioners need 88 signatures in 30 days (by October 30). 

(The newspaper is in Wahoo, home of Wahoo Sam Crawford, the All-Time MLB career leader in Triples. Until this moment, I assumed the nickname was about his personality, not his hometown)

Michigan: Petitions filed against Benton Harbor Mayor

Petitions have been filed against Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad over the recent findings that there is lead in the water pipes, preventing residents from using them. Muhammad won the office over Mayor James Hightower, who was the target of recall petitions (from a petitioner who later went to jail for fraud in the signature gathering process).

Vermont: Underhill Selectman Ousted in Recall vote -- May be first recall in state's history

Big moment in Vermont Recall history, as Underhill Selectman Peter Duval was ousted in a recall vote, 570-23. The recall was over charges of conflict of interest and failing to behave in a respectful manner. The conflict was asking the town's lawyer to let him know about litigation -- Duval had been in litigation against the town over a zoning issue. Petitioners handed in 415 signatures to get the recall on the ballot. 

Voters adopted the recall on Town Meeting Day (the drafting was only in July). 16 towns in Vermont have recall amendments, though the story claims that it was the first use in Vermont's history. The replacement is chosen by the board.

California: San Francisco School Board recall makes the ballot, scheduled for February 15, 2022

The recall effort against San Francisco Board President Gabriela Lopez, former Vice President Alison Collins and member Faauuga Moliga has made the ballot and been scheduled for February 15, 2022.  Petitioners handed in over 81.200 signatures and they needed 51,285 to get on the ballot (it's not clear yet how many valids they got).  Collins also dropped a lawsuit $87 million lawsuit against the board for removing her from the VP position.

The School Board recall is over a few issues, including a push to plan for the reopening of the schools, changing admissions for a high school and an extremely controversial decision to change the names of public schools for political reasons and using some odd history, including removing the name of Abraham Lincoln. Mayor London Breed has been particularly critical of the board, and the City Attorney Dennis Herrera has sued to compel reopening. 

Other board members Jenny Lam, Mark Sanchez and Kevine Boggess and Matt Alexander, will not be able to face a recall until June. 

California has been happy to kick out school board members over the last decade -- 25 have been removed in a recall vote, 7 have resigned, one has been kicked out by the board and only 6 survived a recall vote.

As I note in the Politico story, this may be the most noteworthy school board recall since the Lost Year recall in 1959 in Little Rock, Arkansas. I consider the 1959 event, which helped end the fight to keep the schools segregated in the wake of Brown v. Board of Ed., the recall's finest hour and arguably the most important recall in US history. 

Alaska: New Recall Effort launched against Anchorage Assembly member

Another attempt is being made to recall Anchorage Assembly Member Jamie Allard is facing recall efforts over the same reasons that the recall elections against Assembly member Meg Zaletel (scheduled for October 26) and Assembly Chair Felix Rivera (defeated a recall in April) got on the ballot. The issue seems to be over a meeting which, due to the size of the audience, violated the emergency order limiting crowds during the coronavirus pandemic (there may have been 17 people at the meeting, which had a limit of 15). Petitioners seem to be opposed to masking requirements. There is a fourth reason based on an odd open meeting violation (Allard replied to all Assembly members in an email).

Petitioners needed about 2500 signatures. 

Allard previously faced a recall effort that failed after she posted on Facebook defending vanity license plates with the words "fuhrer" and "3reich." Allard also alleged wrote that the words "are simply German words with no offensive connotation." She also said alleged wrote that "progressives have put a spin on it and created their own definition." 

Governor Mike Dunleavy has since removed Allard from the state's Human Rights Commission. 

California: Op-ed on the dangers of moving to an "automatic replacement" model for recalls

I'll have a lot more to say about the proposed changes to the recall law, but here's an op-ed I co-wrote with David Carrillo taking down the proposed "automatic replacement" model. 

Nebraska: Signatures handed in against Giltner School Board member

Petitions have handed in signatures for the removal of Giltner School Board President Chris Waddle over what seems to be a tax levy. It is not clear how many were handed in from the articles, but they need 119 signatures. 

UK: MP facing recall threats after harassment conviction

MP Claudia Webbe (formerly Labour, now independent) is facing recall threats after she was convicted of harassment for calling her partner's friend and threatening her with acid (and also release naked pictures and videos of the friend). The UK's Recall Law requires a conviction to be used (if the sentence if more than a year, than the MP is automatically expelled, but there was no jail time here). Petitioners would need the signatures of 10% of registered voters in six weeks.

Webbe replaced Keith Vaz as MP. Vaz also was a potential candidate for recall. 

California: Little Hoover Commission hearings on the recall

Here's a Politico article (quoting me) on the Little Hoover Commission and recall reform proposals. I also give some thoughts on the District Attorney recall attempts in SF and LA.

Michigan: Secretary of State says donations to Governor for recall fight must be returned or donated

The $3.4 million that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) raised to fight off a recall will have to be returned to donors or donated to other sources according to a filing by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. Benson's filing was part of a lawsuit filed by the GOP Chairman Ron Weiser looking to declare the recall exception unconstitutional (though, oddly, it was about the GOP preferred candidates for governor. Since there is no replacement race -- the LG takes over -- I'm not sure how that would work). 

Whitmer was able to raise funds in unlimited amounts, rather than the $7,150 usual limit. Anyone paying attention to the California and Wisconsin recalls will be well familiar with this result. Petitioners would need 1,062,647 signatures to get on the ballot and here's a bill that is being proposed to get the recall law in-line with other campaign finance rules. 

California: Kingsburg Councilmember recall effort failed due to signature invalidations

The petitions against Kingsburg City Councilmember Jewell Hurtado have failed, as petitioners handed 423 signatures and got 310 valids. They needed 354 to get on the ballot. Opponents are focused on what they say is Hurtado's "Marxist/socialist agenda." Hurtado, a college student who has been compared to Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, won her seat by just 8 votes in a district that appears to be heavily Republican (47.6% Republican registration). She also was arrested (and has pled not guilty) on a DUI. A recall would have costed about $80-90K.

Colorado: Three Silverton Officials survive recall vote

Silverton Mayor Shane Fuhrman (214-263) Mayor Pro Tem Sallie Barney (197-281) and Trustee Jordan Bierma (203-277) all survived a recall vote October 12.  The issue was over a kitchen sink of complaints including failing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, opposing allowing off-highway vehicles in town and failing to keep campaign promises. 

One of the lead petitioners was the owner of a marijuana dispensary.

Michigan: Petitions started for Forest Hills School Board members

Petitions to recall five Forest Hills School Board members President Mary Vonck, VP Marti Atwater, Secrtary Suzanne Callahan, Treasurer Nicole Meloche-Gregory and Trustee Kristen Covelle is being ruled on for factualness and clarity. There is some debate about the reason for the recall, with the backers claiming transportation and transparency (specifically live-streaming meetings). Others say that the focus is the board's support for efforts to ward off the coronavirus pandemic. A look at the backers website suggests that the pandemic response (and a off-handed reference to critical race theory) is a likely motivation. 

Petitioners would need 6916 signatures per candidate. The recall would cost an estimated $100,000 (and could not be held before May). 

Wisconsin: Stevens Point School Board facing recall efforts

A recall effort has been launched against Stevens Point School Board members Ann Vang, Barbara Portzen, Christina Scott, Gee Pope and Jeffrey Ebel over their support for policies looking to protect the schools from the coronavirus pandemic.

Petitioners need 7033 signatures by November 2 to get the recall on the ballot. 

Wisconsin: Wisconsin Rapids School Board recall fails

A recall effort against Wisconsin Rapids School Board members Troy Bier, Sandy Hett, John Krings and Mary Rayome failed, with petitioners unable to get the 3938 signatures needed to get on the ballot. The issue was the board's support for masking measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Colorado: Three Buckhorn Valley Metropolitan District Board Members ousted in June 29th recall

Missed this result earlier this year -- the June 29th recall against Gypsum's Buckhorn Valley Metropolitan District Number 2 (BVMD) President John Hill (117-46), members Anna Maria Ray (137-26), and David Garton, Jr. (129-34) were all successful. 

Scott Green resigned during the recall campaign. Petitioners needed about 300 signatures to get on the ballot (40 percent of voters). They handed in 378. 

The issue ws developer control of the community (petitioners claim the developers of the area have too much control of the board and its decisions). The cost seems to be about $65,000-$70,000.

Taiwan: More on upcoming recall election against Taiwan Statebuilding Party member

The recall election against Taiwan Legislator Chen Po-Wei (pro-independence Taiwan Statebuilding Party) is heating up before the October 23 vote. The KMT is supporting the recall and has made it an issue in the ongoing difficulties with China. This is also seen as part of a "revenge recalls" over the ouster of Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-Yuto.

A vote would require 25% turnout (72,281) to succeed (as well as actually winning that vote). 

Chen is the first member of his party to win a seat, beating a local dynasty in 2020. 

Idaho: Re-run in the offing, as former Heyburn Mayor kicked out in recall challenges replacement in re-election race

In an attempted re-run, former Heyburn Mayor Mark Rosa, who was ousted in a recall vote last November, is running against his replacement, former City Council President Dick Galbraith (Galbraith was actually appointed to the position after the recall).

Rosa faced complaints of a hostile environment, overstepping financial authority trying to stop a sewer improvement project and trying to get funds to pay for an attorney to sue the city.

Washington: Judge to rule on petitions against Central Valley School Board members

The court is looking at petitions that have been filed against Central Valley School District President Debra Long and Directors Cynthia McMullen and Keith Clark. The petitions are claiming that the districts masking and vaccine rules (which are state rules) to fight the coronavirus pandemic are a violation of the ADA, and also claim that Long lives outside the district for the last nine years (she has been on the board since 2003). 

Washington is a malfeasance standard/judicial recall state and the judge has to approve the petition (which must show a violation of the law). The lead petitioner, Rob Linebarger, is a candidate for the school board, though he has endorsed his opponent in the race.

California: Petitions ongoing against Los Angeles Councilmember

Petitioners claim they have more than half the signatures needed to get a recall against Los Angeles Councilmember Mike Bonin on the ballot. Petitioners need about 27,000 signatures by November 10.

This recall attempt is supposedly over the homeless issues, though petitioners were previously talking about his support for the shutdowns to prevent further damage from the coronavirus pandemic. Bonin previously faced a recall effort in 2017-2018 over his road diet plan -- the DOT's removal of 9.4 miles of traffic lanes to prevent pedestrian deaths. 

Bonin is up for re-election in December, with a primary in June. If the recall got on the ballot, the vote would likely take place in April or May, though that would not effect the re-election vote in June.

Wisconsin: Petitions taken out against two Manitowoc School Board members

Petitions have been taken out against Manitowoc school board members Dave Nickels and Meredith Sauer, seemingly over the board's votes for protective measures to battle the coronavirus pandemic (though the pro-recall website also has a post on critical race theory). Petitioners need about 4000 signatures by December 3.

Oregon: Yamhill County commissioner facing recall effort

 Yamhill County Commissioner Lindsay Berschauer is facing a recall effort over ending development of a trail and demanding a special election for Urban Renewal District.  Petitioners need 6783 signatures to get on the ballot. Three past commissioners, including the commissioner who Berschaier defeated. 

Michigan: Language rejected in Sidney Township Trustee recall

The recall petitions against Sidney Township trustee Jed Welder has been rejected over a lack of clarity in the language. Presumably, they will resubmit. 

Louisiana: Bastrop mayor facing recall threats

Bastrop Mayor Betty Olive is facing recall threats over complaints about Olive taking action on grievances with the police department. Olive has been in office for three months.

Washington: Additional thoughts on the Seattle City Council recall -- seventh in Washington State since 2011

Here's some additional thoughts (with my comments) in the Guardian on the recall against Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant seems to have succeeded, with petitioners having over 11,000 signatures and needing 10,687. From my records, I see that this would be the seventh recall election in Washington State since 2011 (two fire district commissioners in Quilcene in 2012, Pacific Mayor in 2013, Bridgeport Mayor in 2014, Black Diamond City Councilmember in 2018 and Benton Sheriff in 2021. 

The recall is temporarily set for December 7. Sawant is the first socialist elected to Seattle's council in 100 years. 

There's been quite a number of twists and turns to this one. The recall is over Sawant's conduct during the Seattle riots and her failing to comply with public disclosure requirements after she led protestors to the Mayor's house.

Michigan: Petitions taken out against Three Scio Officials

Petitions have been taken out against Scio Township Supervisor Will Hathaway and Trustees Alec Jerome and Jane Vogel. Petitioners need 2439 signatures to get each of the officials on the ballot. The recall seems to be about a vote to double Hathaway's salary.

Missouri: Independence Councilmember facing recall threats

Independence City Councilman Dan Hobart is facing recall threats over calls to move federal stimulus money from streetscape work (which some people claim benefits a single developer) to other public safety measures. 

Petitioners need about 1300 signatures (8% of registered voters) by November 4. 

California: "Reset" in recall effort against Los Angeles District Attorney

Petitioners claim to have 200,000 signatures (they need over 580K by October 27) for the recall of Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon. So they are looking to reset and take a 160 day pause and then start a new effort. 

Ohio: Hudson Mayor facing recall threats

Hudson Mayor Craig Shubert is facing recall threats after he called for school board members to resign of face criminal charges for allowing the book "642 Things to Write About" to be assigned. The claim is that the book has prompts that are child pornography, and argument that the county prosecutor has rejected. Petitioners would need 3095 signatures to get on the ballot.

Colorado: Grand Lake Mayor survives recall vote

The recall election against Grand Lake Mayor Steve Kudron resulted in beating back the effort, 155-47. The issue seems to be a purchase of property by the town and workplace housing issues, with complaints of open meeting law violations. The leaders of the effort are the spouses of a former Trustee and County Assessor. 

California: Newsom vetoes bill preventing "pay for signature" efforts

Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have stopped paying signature gatherers per signatures. This was a hot topic (and the sponsor was State Senator Josh Newman (who lost a recall in 2018). 

Kansas: Signatures handed in against Labette County Commissioner over windfarm

Signatures have been handed in against Labette County Commissioner Brian Kinzie over  his support for a windfarm, though he is asking a judge to review the petitions. Kansas is a Malfeasance Standard state, so this may not hold up (they are arguing an open meeting act violation).

Petitioners handed in 1582 signatures. They need 1202. 

Oklahoma: Effort to change Enid recall law tabled

The changes were relatively minor (requiring an affidavit from petition-gatherers claiming they believed the charges are true), but still clearly designed to stop recall efforts. 

Vermont: Underhill Selectman facing October 19 vote

Underhill Selectman Peter Duval is facing an October 19 recall vote over charges of conflict of interest and failing to behave in a respectful manner. The conflict was asking the town's lawyer to let him know about litigation -- Duval had been in litigation against the town over a zoning issue. Petitioners handed in 415 signatures to get the recall on the ballot. 

California: My op-ed in The Hill on the Recall Boomerang

Here's my oped in the Hill looking at the Recall Boomerang. As mentioned numerous times before, recalls can blow up in the petitioners face. The Republicans in California may be the best example of that. 

California: Post Newsom Round-up -- Reform Proposals and Citrin Center Panel on recalls; Survey says on proposals

The Los Angeles Times' Mark Barabak has an interview with me on possible reform proposals

Here's the Citrin Center Panel on whether the recall should be recalled or reformed

Orange County continues to shift

The UC San Diego Yankelovich Center Survey shows that 66% want a malfeasance standard for the recall; 54% want to raise the signature total to 20%; 43% want a replacement by Lt. Gov. (or others) instead of a new election; 53% want a runoff and 49% want to split the recall and replacement race,

Idaho: West Ada School Board member facing recall threat

A new recall attempt has been started against West Ada School Board member Amy Johnson over the fact that she works for Blue Cross.

The leader of the recall effort is has been a leader of the opposition to the schools mask mandates.  Previously, Johnson and board members Ed Klopfenstein, Steve Smylie, Phillip Neuhoff and Rene Ozuna faced recall efforts over their attempts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Two of the board members resigned and the other recalls failed to get on the ballot.

Idaho has a Queen of the Hill provision, so if the recall gets to the ballot, the vote must top the number of votes that the board members got in the last election for the recall to succeed. 

Petitioners would need 2578 signatures (50% of turnout). West Ada has had numerous school board fights as many members (though not Johnson) were originally appointed to the board after a 2016 recall led to the ouster of two members and the resignation of two others.

Michigan: Recall language approved against Davison School Board Member who threatened County Clerk

Petition language has been approved against Davison School Board Member Matthew Smith Jr. after he was charged with malicious use of telecommunication services (he is accused of harassing the Houghton County Clerk by calling her and threatening to kill her dogs). 

This was the third time petition language was submitted. He is also the chairman of the Genesee County Republican Party.

Michigan: Petition language approved in recall of three Alma commissioners

Petitions language has been approved against Alma Vice Mayor Roxann Herrington and Commissioners Nick Piccolo and Audra Stahl. The recall is over a vote that will allow a former nursing home to be converted into a temporary shelter for young male refugees. 

Petitioners need 745 signatures in 60 days.

Washington: Replacement chosen for Benton County Sheriff kicked out in recall vote

Former Sheriff Supervisor Tom Croskrey has been named to replace Benton County Sheriff Jerry Hatcher, who was kicked out of office -- over 75% of voters have cast ballots for removal, with over 28,000 votes counted already (21,436-7,140). 

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.

Hatcher is now claiming he lives in a cabin in Montana and is suing his wife to cover the expenses of the recall defense.  

The recall was approved by the Washington State Supreme Court. Previously a judge had green lit a recall effort, ruling that petitioners have met Washington's malfeasance standard on eight charges.

The recall is estimated to cost between $200,000-$250,000.

New Mexico: Otero County Commissioner recall fails

The recall effort against Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin appears to have failed. Petitioners collected 1229 signatures and needed 1574 in 90 days. 

Griffin faced a recall for his role in rioting at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Griffin, the founder of Cowboys for Trump, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor criminal charges. Griffin denies that he violated the law. A judge greenlit the recall effort (New Mexico is a Malfeasance Standard state).

In addition, Griffin has been accused of calling for the murder of the Governors of Virginia and Michigan, and called for violence at President Joe Biden's inauguration. 

North Carolina: Raleigh Mayoral effort appears to be failing

Can't see the story behind the paywall, but it seems that the recall effort against Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin is failing.

The recall was over a council vote to ask the state to move the elections from October 2021 to November 2022 as well. The council is also asking for a permanent move to even year elections and ending run-offs and moving to the first past the post system. The system was approved, and most municipalities in the state were pushed to the March primary.

The effort originally targeted the eight city councilmembers as well, but now they are just looking at Baldwin.

Petitioners are looking to gather 14,000 signatures. Petitioners include two former city council members who lost in 2019.

Oregon: Portland Mayor recall effort denied extra time, seems destined to fail

A judge has rejected a request for a 90 day extension in the recall campaign against Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler (D), which appears to have doomed the effort. The recall seemed to be floundering, as they only had 13,000 signatures by September 8. They need 47,788 by October 6. One of the leaders of the recall was the lawyer for Sarah Iannarone, the second place finisher in the election. 

California: Signatures handed in for Kingsburg Councilmember recall

Petitioners have handed in 423 signatures for the recall of Kingsburg City Councilmember Jewell Hurtado. They need 354 to get on the ballot. Opponents are focused on what they say is Hurtado's "Marxist/socialist agenda." Hurtado, a college student who has been compared to Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, won her seat by just 8 votes in a district that appears to be heavily Republican (47.6% Republican registration). A recall would cost about $80-90K. 

North Dakota: Fargo School Board members recall effort fails with numerous signatures tossed out

The recall effort against four Fargo School Board members, Seth Holden, Tracie Newman, Nikkie Gullickson and Jim Johnson, failed as many signatures were stricken due to error. The recall effort is over their support for hybrid learning initiatives to prevent the coronavirus pandemic. The petitioners cite other grievances, but the Facebook page is ND Parents Against Distance Learning.

Petitioners needed 4,144 signatures for each to get on the ballot. The failure rate was significant (Gullickson 4457 handed in, 3081 validated; Holden, 4451 -- 2996; Johnson 4514 -- 2879; Newman 4472-2910). The article notes that there cannot be another recall attempt throughout the rest of the term, though that seems off (I would imagine that you need an actual vote for the one attempt rule to count).

Washington: Seattle City Council member recall meets signature requirement, temporarily set for December 7

The recall effort against Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant seems to have succeeded, with petitioners having over 11,000 signatures and needing 10,687. The recall is temporarily set for December 7. Sawant is the first socialist elected to Seattle's council in 100 years.

There's been quite a number of twists and turns to this one. The recall is over Sawant's conduct during the Seattle riots and her failing to comply with public disclosure requirements after she led protestors to the Mayor's house.

California: Signatures handed in against Shasta County Supervisor recall

Petitioners claim to have handed in over 6000 signatures for the recall of Supervisor Leonard Moty. They need 4308 valids to get on the ballot. They had previously run into problems, as petitioners failed to sign the ad taken out in the newspaper. The ballots will be hand counted rather than using the random sampling method. 

No signatures were handed against Supervisors Mary Rickert (4432 needed) and Joe Chimenti (4392 needed). The recall is over the Supervisors support for restrictions to fight the Covid pandemic. Petitioners claim they will restart the recall effort against Rickert and Chimenti, though they presumably would have to start from scratch and Chimenti's up for reelection in June. 

Here's a vastly more detailed look at the fight, which notes that petitioners would need about 4000 valid signatures. There is also a claim that the recall proponents have copied their logo from the QAnon logo. Supervisor Patrick Jones joined the petitioners in their handing in the signatures.  

The cost for a recall election is estimated is between $200,000 and $400,000.

Massachusetts: Fall River Mayor, famed recall loser/replacement race winner, sentenced to 6 years in Smartphone App defrauding case

Former Fall River Mayor Jasiel F. Correia II has been sentenced to 6 years and a fine of $311,000 after his conviction in federal court on charges that he defrauded investors for a smartphone app, plus an earlier asset forfeiture of $566,000. He was also indicted on bribery and extortion charges over his dealings with marijuana vendors, though I don't see a resolution to that case.

Correia lost a recall vote in 2018, but won his seat in the five candidate replacement race.

Correia still ran for reelection after his indicment, losing to School Board Member Paul Coogan. Correia got only 7% of the vote, had previously taken a temporary absence from the job and quit his run for another term.