Missouri: Recall of Jackson County Executive/All-Star Royals 2nd Baseman scheduled for August 26th

Jackson County has scheduled the upcoming recall election against Jackson County Executive Frank White, former Royals former All-Star 2nd Baseman and member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for August 26th. 

White could try to veto the decision, but that seems irrelevant.

The recall is over complaints that property taxes are going up between 30% - 400%. There is a complaint that White's salary went up 7%. A recall was threatened last year as well. White says that it was over his vote against a Stadium, and the leaders of the petition (who owe $150,000 for polling), are contractors who wanted a yes vote.

Apparently, White has only attended one of 29 meetings this year.

Petitioners got 43011 valid signature and needed 42902. It sounded like over 80,000 signatures had been handed in. At one point, the pro-recall group said they need (or needed -- I'm not clear) to raise $150,000 to get the petitioners to hand it in. This appears to be a separate group handing in the signatures that raise the total to 80,000. It is not clear how that worked.

Three legislators have asked the Attorney General for an investigation into White. White has accused one legislator of illegally using staff to help with the recall. 

The recall is estimated to cost $2 million, though frequently those numbers change. 

Ohio: Cleveland Height Mayor recall scheduled for September 9

The recall election of Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren has been scheduled for September 9, the same day as the primary. The City Council also noted that the Mayor cannot use the social media account for political messaging. 

Petitioners said they handed in 4425 signatures and apparently got 3845 valids. They needed 2900. Approximately 500 were invalidated.

It was previously announced that Seren had failed to make the ballot for a reelection race,  he needed 342 signatures but was 39 short (a number of petitioners had signed other petitions as well). 

The recall is over claims that his wife has allegedly made numerous anti-Semitic comments against city employees and other officials and a civil rights complaint filed against him. Seren is also being faulted for a high turnover rate and failed budget process.

California: Poway Councilmember facing renewed recall effort

Poway Councilmember Tony Blain is facing a renewed recall push, with Mayor Steven Vaus calling for his removal. 

Blain first faced a recall effort after his censure for claims of an attempted vote trade. There are also complaints of bullying, harassment, retaliation and bribery, with a particularly strong response from the City Attorney. Blain argues that contractors and developers are leading the effort. Petitioners need 2500 signatures to get to the ballot.

Poway recalled councilmember Betty Rexford in 2010. 

Maine: Lisbon Councilor resigns, Council Chair facing petitions

Lisbon Council Chair Fern Larochelle is facing petitions, and petitions were taken out against Councilor Jeremy Barnard, who then resigned. 

Petitioners are claiming financial and ethical neglect, specifically a 60% increase in municipal expenditures as well as unnamed conflict of interest issues.

Larochelle has been in office for nearly 20 years.

California: San Francisco Supervisor raises 3X opponents in recall, though faces significant challenges

Supporters of San Francisco Supervisor Joel Engardio have raised over $536,000 to battle against the recall, which is three times more than the opponents. However, this article and others note that Engradio is facing significant challenges, including the fact that he won office by 469 votes. 

The recall election is scheduled for September 16. 

The recall is over the Engardio's support for the passage of Prop. K, which will lead to a new park and the closing of the Great Highway. 

Proposition K passed with 56% of the vote, but in Engardio's district, the vote was 63.7% opposed, so real risk. 

Petitioners handed in 10,985 signatures, with 10.523 valid. They needed 9911. 

The validity rate was 95.8%. It's not clear why they did a full count. They previously announced a 99,3% validity rate, when they checked 549 checked signature using the randomg sampling method. That would suggest that they didn't need to check each one. 

Petitioners handed supposedly collected over 14000, which appears to mean that they did a great job of checking them over (they may have handed in another 300 additional ones).

Here's my last look at signature verification rates for other large recall events.

The lead petition resigned from the role over debates about spending -- reportedly, the campaign has spent over $100,000 for signature collection and is looking to put in some more, though they are in debt. Engardio has a 4-1 advantage in funds. 

Taiwan: DPP looks to temper expectations in upcoming recall vote

The Democratic Progressive Party is trying to temper expectations in the recall campaign, after President Lai Ching-Te suggested that up to 15 Kuomintang legislators could be ousted. 

Recalls against 24 legislators from the Kuomintang Party made the July 26th ballot, as well as Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao. The mass recall campaign was launched by the Democratic Progressive Party against 41 members of the Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party, and the DPP faced numerous recalls, leading to efforts against 79 legislators. Two efforts against DPP members are outstanding.

The recalls started after the KMT passed laws targeting the Constitutional Court, the budget and looking to change the recall act itself. 

The Kao recall is suspended following a corruption investigation.

Here's an editorial looking into what the numbers mean, including the fact that the KMT need to lose more than 6 seats to lose their majority.

Missouri: Jackson County Executive/All-Star Royals 2nd Baseman Recall makes the ballot; possibly scheduled for August 26th

The recall effort against Jackson County Executive Frank White, former Royals former All-Star 2nd Baseman and member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, has made the ballot and looks to be scheduled for August 26th. 

The recall is over complaints that property taxes are going up between 30% - 400%. There is a complaint that White's salary went up 7%. A recall was threatened last year as well. White says that it was over his vote against a Stadium, and the leaders of the petition (who owe $150,000 for polling), are contractors who wanted a yes vote.

Petitioners got 43011 valid signature and needed 42902. It sounded like over 80,000 signatures had been handed in. At one point, the pro-recall group said they need (or needed -- I'm not clear) to raise $150,000 to get the petitioners to hand it in. This appears to be a separate group handing in the signatures that raise the total to 80,000. It is not clear how that worked.

Three legislators have asked the Attorney General for an investigation into White. White has accused one legislator of illegally using staff to help with the recall. 

The recall is estimated to cost $2 million, though frequently those numbers change. 

Oregon: House Representative facing petitions

Oregon House Representative Cyrus Javadi (R) is facing a  recall threat led by a former conservative supporter. The focus appears to be Javadi's support for a bill on access for library books and LGBTQ+ issues. 

Petitioners would need over 5400 signatures (15% of gubernatorial turnout) by September 24.

Texas: Signatures handed in against La Marque Councilmember

Signatures have been handled in against La Marque Councilmember Joseph Lowry. Petitioners handed in 268 signatures and need 191. 

The claim is misconduct that includes multiple city council censures over harassment. Lowry previously led recall efforts in 2022 against Mayor Keith Bell and Councilmember Kimberley Yancy. The recall effort against Bell went to the ballot, though he survived the vote. 

Arizona: Mesa Councilmember recall makes the ballot, set for November 4th

The recall election against Mesa Council member Julie Spilsbury has made the ballot, and will be held on November 4 (apparently tied in with the general election.

The stated issues were a vote to convert a hotel to an emergency homeless shelter and earlier votes for raises for elected officials and an increase in utility rates. 

Spilsbury, a Republican who endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, has stated that the effort is a partisan move by conservatives, and the leader of the effort was backed by Turning Point USA. Petitioners also mentioned transgender and DEI issues.

Petitioners handed in over 5235 signatures in the recall effort and got 3858 valid. They needed 3070 valid signatures.

The last council recall was almost 50 years ago.