Oregon: Elgin Mayor survives recall by 12 votes

Here's a fuller account of the Elgin Mayor recall. The mayor, John Stover, won by 12 votes, 239-251. His term expires in December. The recall was precipitated by questions of police performance issues, specifically a police shooting in the midst of a domestic disturbance call.

Michigan: Turnout falls 22% in replacement vote to fill recalled Rep seat falls

The race to fill Paul Scott's seat saw a 22% drop in voter turnout from the November recall (going from 31% to 24%)

Minnesota: Editorial extolling state's malfeasance standard

Here

Washington, DC: Still close in the Advisory Neighborhood Commission recall

This article claims that yesterday's Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner recall could still go the otherway, though it seems like it will be quite a hill to climb for commissioner Doug Smith. The recall went 75-59, but there are 16 absentee ballots and 8 special ballots outstanding (won't know the results till March 9). If all of those ballots are counted, he would need 20 to survive (I'm presuming a tie goes to the elected official, maybe I'm wrong?) 

The article notes that:

This will be only the fifth time in the last two decades that such a move would have succeeded. Unlike recalling a citywide official, attempting a recall against an ANC commissioner isn't hard—according to the elections board, recalls against ANC commissioners have been tried some 32 times since 1992.

Texas: San Benito considers lower signature requirements

A City Charter Review Committee is discussing lower signatures requirements for recalls. Two members are saying that lower the requirements would make it to easy to get on the ballot, though others say that the current requirements are to difficult.

Currently, the city requires signatures from 25% of all registered voters and an additional kicker -- at least 60% of those 25% had to have voted in the last election.

I have to admit, I'm a bit confused by the article and proposed changes, as it talks about raising the requirement to 35% of voters, but then talks about a low turnout election making it too easy to get a recall on the ballot (which would only be the case if they are using a voter turnout, not registered voter formula).


Part of the backstory is that Mayor Joe Hernandez feels that the committee is proposing the changes to launch against him.

The piece does gives this nice study of other Texas jurisdiction's signature requirements:

In Harlingen, signatures from 15 percent of registered voters are required to order recall elections, while Los Fresnos requires signatures from 25 percent of voters who cast ballots in the last election, according to a study released by Passement.

That study also shows that numbers vary by city.

Mission requires signatures from 30 percent of voters who cast ballots in the last city election and South Padre Island requires signatures of 20 percent of voters, but not less than 500 votes. The number in Mercedes is 33 percent of voters who cast ballots in the last election or 500 voters, whichever is greater, the study shows.

In Port Isabel, signatures from 20 percent of voters who cast ballots in the last election are required, but not less than 200 votes, while San Juan requires signatures from 10 percent of voters who cast ballots in the last election, but not less than 200 votes, the study shows.

California: KPFA Board member and volunteer treasurer faces recall threats

The board is not sending petitions out, causing a complicated fight.

Oregon: Elgin mayor appears to survive close call

Elgin mayor John Stover appears to have survived his recall race, 239-251.

Michigan: Republican wins State Rep Replacement vote

Calling into question the value of the recall of Paul Scott, voters elected Republican Joe Graves in the replacement vote, beating the Democrat 52-42%.

Michigan: Morrice Village Trustee survives recall

First recall survivor of the night -- Morrice Village Trustee Christine Williams, who was accused of removing election material from house doors. Vote was overwhelming, 35-112 (76%).

Washington, DC: Advisory Neighborhood Commission member ousted

Douglas Smith, a member of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission in district 4B04, was ousted in a recall tonight, 75-59 (56% -- 44%).

Michigan: Tekonsha Village Council member kicked out in recall vote

Village Council member Howard Riggs lost his recall vote tonight, 49-89. Riggs was recalled after complaining about a plan to appoint the girlfriend of the Village President to an open seat (which had just been vacated by the  same Village President's ex-wife). Riggs has backed away from his threat to launch a recall of the Village President, due to the timing (which would be a recall in August, followed by a vote in November.

Kansas: Basehor Mayor, City Council members lose recall vote

Basehor Mayor Terry Hill and City Council members Dennis Mertz and Iris Dystart were all ousted in recall votes today. Turnout -- not including early ballots -- was 26.5%, which was higher than any local election since 2005 (the last election saw 18% turnout). Hill lost 65%-35%, Mertz 61-39, Dytart 59-41.

Wisconsin: Man arrested in falsification of signatures in Wanggaard rrecall

Here

Florida: Haines City Recall goes up to Appellate Court

The Haines City recall, which was stopped by a court under the failure to meet malfeasance claims, is seeing that ruling appealed to the 2nd District Court of Appeals.

Minnesota: Supreme Court tosses out Wabasha County Commissioner recall

The Minnesota Supreme Court has tossed out the attempt to recall Wabasha County commissioner Deb Roschen. Minnesota is a "judicial recall" or "malfeasance standard" state, and the court ruled that the charges did not meet the  “malfeasance in office" standard. 

Petitioners collected more than 500 signatures, they needed 415.

The petition brought four charges against Roschen: That she attempted to fire a county employee, made defamatory statements against county workers, attempted to pass measures without public notice and threatened to cut sheriff’s department funding.
If those allegations constituted malfeasance, the Supreme Court could have called for a public hearing to determine whether the charges were true and whether a recall election was needed.

Alaska: Wasilla Council Seat still not filled

The seat is to be filled by appointment, but the council hasn't come to an agreement on a replacement.

Georgia: Recall against Athens mayor tossed out

The Board of Elections claims that the petition to recall Mayor Nancy Denson (Not the full petition, just the request to start the signature gathering process) because the petition only had 75 valid signatures (needed 100). The petitioners handed in 115.

California: San Andreas Board of Supervisor's member targeted in recall attempt

Here

Arizona: Mayoral Tombstone Blues -- March 13 date set for recall

We'll check and see if the city fathers' endorsed this, but the Mayor of Tombstone Jack Henderson is facing a recall vote on March 13. Petitioners collected 162 signatures. It sounds like the recall started on the first day possible. The opponent is Stephen Schmidt, the owner of Johnny Ringo's Bar, who will try to avoid the fate of his establishment's namesake.

Wisconsin: Recall race very tight

Latest poll out shows Walker down. Barrett would be the strong front runner in a Democratic primary.