Ohio: Johnstown Mayor and Council President ousted in recall vote

Johnstown Mayor Chip Dutcher and City Council President Marvin Block were kicked out of office in the August 30th recall election. The vote was 646-252 against Dutcher and 694-208 against Block. The vote was more than double that of a special primary election earlier in the month.

The will be replaced by appointment by the council.

The recall is over claims that they pressured the former police chief to fire the court clerk/police dispatcher. The chief has filed a complaint against Block. The police chief has been fired (there is also claims that he claimed the police chief and finance director where in an "inappropriate relationship.") The campaign is called the "Chip off the old Block." Block argues that the recall is over a goal from proponents to preserve the "rural feel" rather than growing. 

The petitions were first rejected by the City Clerk over claims that petitioners could not start gathering signatures, because the six month grace period at the start of a term had not started. The petitioners claim that the law didn't specify that it needs a new term (they are both on their second term). This does not sound like a winning argument and the clerk felt the same way. 

Petitioners handed in 305 for Dutcher and 332 for Block, and apparently got about 140 valids each. They needed 95 valids. The recall was estimated to cost about $15,000.

Update: Donny Bernard was appointed Mayor.