Idaho: West Bonner School Board Members recall seeing potential double turnout from original election

The recall election set for August 29 against West Bonner School Board Chair Keith Rutledge and Trustee Susan Brown is seeing huge turnout in the early going, with the county clerk expecting double the votes of their original victory in 2021.

Rutledge and Brown received 485 and 359 votes. Over 300 votes were cast with a week to go. The total number of voters in the area is 3411.

The recall is over a 3-2 vote to approve the appointment of former State Senator Branden Durst as the new school superintendent, despite him not having the qualifications to serve (he needs to have worked in a school for four years -- the board declared an emergency to allow it). Durst, a former Democrat who switched parties and ran for the Republican nomination for State Superintendent (he lost). Durst is seen as part of a "far-right takeover" of the schools.

Petitioners needed 243 signatures for Rutledge and 180 for Brown. No word yet on how many were handed in/rejected. 

Idaho has a "Queen of the Hill" provision, which would required a recall to not only win the vote, but top the total number of votes in favor of the candidate in the last election. Voters need 245 votes to kick out Rutledge and 177 to remove Brown.