Illinois: Two House Bills would allow recall of Chicago mayor

One of the bills allows just the mayor to face a recall and needs signatures from two alderman.

The other bill would allow the recall for alderman and Cook County State's attorney.

Arizona: Wickenburg Mayor recall on April 24 ballot

Former town Councilman Rui Pereira is set to face Mayor Everett Sickles in the upcoming recall set for April 24. Former Town Councilman Ruben Madrid led the recall effort. The issue seems to be Sickles moves against the Chamber of Commerce.

Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Tribal Chairperson survives recall vote

Chairperson Regina Gaco-Bentley survived a vote 419-233. In September, Stella Kay and Marci Reyes survived a recall vote while Shana Wemigwase lost her seat in November.

UK: Labour MP facing recall threat after being jailed for speeding

Labour Party MP Fiona Onasanya is being pushed to resign or face a recall after being jailed for three months after claiming someone else was driving her car when she was caught speeding (11 mph over the limit). Onasanya has already been expelled from the Labour Party.  Petitioners would need about 7000 signatures to get on the ballot (10% of voters).

New Jersey: State Senator who switched parties facing recall from Republican State Committee

State Senator Dawn Addiego, who yesterday announced that she would be switching parties, is now facing a recall attempt. Petitioners would need 40,021 signatures (25% of registered voters), which is far more than any successful recall of any other legislator that has ever gotten on the ballot.

The article notes that the party will be able to enhance their database and fundraise off the recall effort.

California: Brea School Board proposed school renaming leads to recall threats

The push to rename Fanning Elementary School, following allegations that the namesake was a member of the KKK in the 1920s, has led to threats of a recall by supporters of the current name.

Myanmar: Recall Bill drafted; Speaker recommends submission to legislature

Here

Massachusetts: Longmeadow Town Meeting votes in favor of recall provision

Four School Board members, Chair Beth Baron and members Kerrin Morrin, Stephanie Jasmin and Melanie Rothstein, all resigned after voters approved a recall amendment last week. The amendment hasn't even been approved by the legislature yet. The recall issue was a 4-3 vote against the Superintendent.

Washington: Western Washington University's Student Government Vice President facing recall effort

VP for Business and Operations Genaro Meza-Roa if facing the recall of over what appears to be claims of misogyny for voting against a female student on a campus activities council, refusal to use preferred gender pronouns and his use of the word "retarding" over the pace of a budget committee.

The recall is scheduledd between February 1 and February 8.

Michigan: Petition approved against indicted Detroit Councilman

The petition against Councilman Gabe Leland has been approved following his federal indictment on corruption and bribery charges. Jackson was indicted for accepting $15,000 and free car repairs. Petitioners need about 3200 signatures to get on the ballot.

Michigan: Three Fraser Council members facing recall efforts

Council members Michael Lesich, Suzanne Kalka and David Winowiecki are facing petitions following a vote for a property tax increase for police and fire services. Petitioners need 1642 signatures to get on the ballot.

Arizona: Douglas Mayor facing petitions

Mayor Robert Uribe is facing a recall effort over issues in city hall, including alleged employee problems and a failure to have a special meeting as requested by council members. Petitioners need 569 signatures. The deadline is May 11.

Maine: Ogunquit Selectmen recall gets the signatures

The recall against Selectmen Madeline Mooney, Charles Waite III and Robert Winn appears ready to move to the next stage. Supporters of the three have filed a suit demanding a clearer answer on the recall laws and claiming that the petitions and signatures are invalid because one of the petitioners isn't a resident. The recall is for their support of the town manager's decision to fire the Fire Chief.  However, petitioners handed in over 300 signatures. They need 215 valids. and got 253-257.

The Board is waiting till February to decide on scheduling a recall vote.

Idaho: Kooskia Mayor recall effort underway

Petitions have been taken out against Mayor Charlotte Schilling over her position on Kooskia Ambulance. Petitioners would need 45 signatures to get the recall on the ballot and have 75 days to collect the signatures.

Here's an editorial looking at the history -- or lack thereof -- of recalls in Idaho County.

Michigan: Brief filed to Supreme Court on Muskegon Drain Commissioner recall attempt

We have a really worthwhile read here. An appellate court ruled 3-0 that the Michigan "factual" standard does not mean "truthful." The recall effort is against Commissioner Brenda Moore over an approval of a drain project.

The brief, filed by Moore's attorney Nick Curcio, does a great job of examining Michigan's recall law, its factual/truthfulness requirement and the 2012 legislative change that created the new recall law. As I noted, the law seemed to be specifically designed to limit recalls, so the fact that the Supreme Court may be looking into it is no surprise.

One other point of note. The brief, as well as this piece in the Michigan Bar Journal by Jason Hanselman, notes that Michigan adopted the recall in 1908. Other places claim that the state adopted it in 1913 (note this article from the Michigan Law Review in 1911 mentioning Oregon as the first state and not mentioning Michigan's law at all). It could be that 1913 was when the legislation laying out how to perform a recall went into effect, but this is another part of the Bermuda Triangle nature of the recall law.

Massachusetts: Former Fall River Mayor will not run in a recall vote

Former Fall River Mayor Sam Sutter, who won the mayoral job in a recall vote in 2014 only to lose it in 2015, will not run in the recall.

Michigan: Traverse City Mayor and Commissioner recall efforts fail

The recall efforts against Mayor Jim Carruthers and Commissioner Richard Lewis failed with no signatures handed in. The efforts were over an increase in city property tax and a tax administration fee. Petitioners needed 1515 signatures to get on the ballot.

California: Recall attempt against Montebello Councilman fails

The recall attempt against Councilman Jack Hadjinian and ex-Mayor Vanessa Delgado failed. Petitioners needed four attempts to get the petitions approved. The issue was votes to allow marijuana businesses to open and a $4.2 million city deficit.

Colorado: Fort Morgan Councilmembers facing recall efforts

Councilmembers Dan Marler, Kevin Lindell and Lisa Northrup are facing recall efforts over a vote to allow the City Manager to return to work before a third degree assault charge (which was over slamming the brakes while the manager was in the car with his daughter). The Manager was found not guilty in the trial. One of the recall leaders is a former council member.

Louisiana: Clinton Mayor facing petitions

Clinton Mayor Lori Ann Bell is facing petitions over claims that she and the former police chief illegally entered into contracts to lease cars for the police department. The town doesn't have a budget for 2019 and have been fined for water system problems. Petitioners would need 419 signatures in 180 days. Petitioners claim to have 65% of the signatures.