Ohio: East Cleveland Mayor survives recall vote for the second time

Despite all the problems in setting up the recall, East Cleveland Mayor Mayor Brandon King survived his second recall vote, 316-742. The recall was over a kitchen sink of complaints, including a budget deficit, indicted police, corruption and "tall grass."

King, who survived a vote last year by 19 votes, first stepped into the position in a recall of then-Mayor Gary Norton.

This recall had a good bit of confusion. Petitioners' handed in enough signatures to get a recall on the ballot (they gave in 796 and had 417 valids and need 396, though there were protests.

While King survived last year's vote, East Cleveland Councilman Ernest Smith was removed. At that time, the city council appointed three different people to fill the seat that was opened with the recall of Ernest Smith (never got a clear answer on the legality of the law director's attempt to stop the recall of King, though he survived the vote anyway). Three council members appointed Lateek Shabazz (quoted in the story about the King recall. to fill the board seat, but that was found to violate the open meeting laws. The City Council President then appointed Jackie Goodrum, who was ineligible as she is a public employee. Finally, Mark McClain was appointed.