Other Recall-related news from Election Day

Here's a round-up of recall adjacent stories from Election Day (not including actual recall elections which you can see below):

Michigan Democrats captured the Senate for the first time since 1983... when a recall ousted two Democrats and replaced them with Republicans, giving the Republicans control of the chamber. 

Gallagher died -- he came in 16th in the 2003 California Gubernatorial recall.

Kevin Kiley, who ran against Newsom, won a Congressional seat. 

Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Hewitt, who ran in the recall against Newsom, also lost his seat.

Here's my interview on KGO-TV on Governor Newsom's potential chances at national office.

Wisconsin State Senator Alberta Darling, who survived a recall in 2011, resigned her seat. 

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, who faced a serious recall effort, easily won reelection.

Michigan: Four Lyon Township officials survives recall vote

Four Lyon Township officials survived recall votes on election day, with Clerk Doug Schnell defeating Joe Wagster (561-293), Treasurer Susie Grier defeating Gregory Pearn (579-282), Trustee Lenette Tomak topping Ron Byelich (569-302) and Trustee Eric Carlson beating Laura Piaskowski (559-309). The recall was over a vote in favor of a $130 Million sewer project.

Oregon: John Day/Canyon City Parks and Recreation District Board Member recall set for December 13

A recall election will be held on December 13 against John Day/Canyon City Parks and Recreation District Board Member Lisa Weigum over complaints that she broke public meeting and publication laws, though her supporters note that she doesn't have the ability to make some of these decisions. The issue seems to be a $4M poll bond initiative that failed by close margins (in May, it failed on a 802-802 tie).  Petitioners handed in 295 valids and needed 289.

The recall would cost between $2,000-$3,000.

Maine: Paris sets recall for two Oxford Hills School Board Members, though authority in question

Two School Board Members in Paris' Oxford Hills School District, Julia Lester and Sarah Otterson, are facing recall efforts over their support for a proposal to promote a "safe learning environment of students of all gender and sexual identities." Recall proponents arguing that the proposal would "allow teachers to withhold important information from parents."

700 signatures were turned in, though the recall seems to have a significant issue in that it is not clear that the town has the ability to initiate the recall because the school district serves multiple communities. 

Update: The recall is set for January 10.

New Jersey: Hoboken Councilman recall effort fails

The recall effort against Hoboken Councilman Phil Cohen claims of promoting special interests failed, with petitioners not handing in any signatures and instead focusing on school board elections

Ohio: Newton Falls approves charter amendment on time limit for recall petitions

Voters approved a charter amendment in Newton Falls by 10 votes (663-653) that sets a 90-day time limit on recall petitions and also require recall elections to be timed with the next general or primary election. Newton Falls had a protracted legal fight over a recall in 2021.

Update: It passed by 2 votes. 

Oregon: Signatures verification fails against two Coos Bay Hospital Board Members

Petitions against two Coos Bay Hospital Board of Directors Members, Chair Dr. Thomas McAndrew and Secretary Dr. Donna Rabin, have failed. Petitioners needed 2853 valid signatures. They handed in one petition with 3511 signatures, but only 2465 valids. The second had 3426 signatures with 2472 valids. Apparently out of district signatures were the prime problem. 

The recall had some very unusual moments, specifically when petitioners targeted four other members, Mark Sheldon, Barbara Taylor, Troy Cribbins and Carma Erickson-Hurt, but claimed that 2400 signature sheets were stolen from their campaign office. 

The recall is backed by two labor unions, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 and the Oregon Nurses Association. The two unions have reportedly spent $85,000 for the recall effort.

Petitioners claim that the recall is over hiring a senior executive who was a convicted embezzler and a board decision to shut an acute psychiatric unit (the decision was later reversed). The unions are in the middle of contract renewal negotiations.

The App That’s Teaching Americans Spanish in Just 3 WeeksBabbel

Each petition needed to have 2,853 valid signatures to qualify.

Of the two petitions, the first had 3,511 signatures, with only 2,465 being proven valid, according to Murphy.

The other had 3,426 signatures submitted, but only 2,472 were valid.

Murphy says signatures had to match the signer's voter registration signature. Signers also had to be active registered voters in the district when the petition was signed.

She says many signers were not residents of the Bay Area Health District.

Bay Area Hospital's director of marketing and communications, Kimberly Winker, released a statement Friday afternoon saying the hospital can now continue to serve patients without the interruption of a recall that would've caused "significant disruption to the hospital's ability to conduct business and damaged the hospital's reputation as the premier healthcare facility on the South Coast."

Colorado: Republicans move away from recall against party-switching State Senator

Republicans appear to be walking back their recall effort against Colorado State Senator Kevin Priola, who switched from Republican to Democrat last year, following losses in the November election that prevented the recall from giving the GOP a chance to gain control of the chamber with a recall. There was an earlier attempt to recall Priola, with petitioners claiming that they got 20,000 signatures and spent $200,000. But then the Colorado Supreme Court upheld a District Court judge ruling that has put on hold the recall effort, saying that petitions cannot go out until January 9 (when the Priola is sworn in). The recall effort had received the green light from the Secretary of State.

The issue is a complicated question of which district the recall should take place in. The Secretary of State previously announced that any recall effort against Priola would take place in the 13th district, his new, more Republican district (4%  GOP lean), rather than the 25th, which is evenly split. The change was due to regular redistricting.

Petitioners would need 18,291 signatures in 60 days.  

The Senate at the time was Democratic (21-14) and Priola is term-limited. He barely won office in 2020, 50.84-49.16. Priola switched parties due to his opposition to Republican election denial and conspiracy theories.  In addition to his switch, petitioners are also citing his vote for road-use fees and a bill to make most drug possessions a misdemeanor, as well as drug injection sites in Denver.

Republicans leaned heavily into recalls after their disastrous showings in 2018, though to no effect (none got on the ballot). Colorado did have two recalls which led to the removal of two Democratic Senators in 2013 over gun control laws. 

Voters have used the recall against party flippers twice in the past (arguably three times). In 1995, California Assemblyman Paul Horcher was ousted over moving from Republican to Independent and voting for Willie Brown for Speaker. Assemblywoman Doris Allen also moved from the Republicans in the same year and had herself elected Speaker, which led to her ouster. While seen as a betrayal, I don't believe she actually left the party. And in 1981, Washington State Senator Peter Von Reichbauer switched from Democrat to Republican, which flipped control of the chamber. Von Reichbauer survived the recall vote. 

California: Two San Francisco School Board members appointed in recall race win election, one fails

One of the three appointed school board members, Ann Hsu, lost her seat to Alida Fisher, finishing fourth. 118,762 -115-188. The other two San Francisco School Board appointees have made it through the election.

Michigan: Maple Valley Township Supervisor loses recall vote over wind farms

Maple Valley Township Supervisor John Schwandt was ousted on Election Day by Dan Boes, 449-378. The recall effort was over two votes regarding wind farms. One was a vote in favor of a six month moratorium and the other was the cancellation of a ballot question on wind farms. Schwandt is also facing an opening meeting violation complaint over closing public comments over parking. Presumably, the recalls are from opponents of wind farms.  At the same election, a wind energy ordinance was shot down, 593-265.

Colorado: Walsenburg Mayor and Six Councilmembers facing petitions

Walsenburg Mayor Charles Bryant and six council members, Greg Daniels, Veronica Maes, Nick Vigil, Carmen Lara, Ricky Jennings and Don Martinez are facing petitions. The issue seems to be an internal battle in the government and the mayor has encouraged the recall effort against what he calls a "culture of corruption" saying they need a "hard reset." Apparently, the mayor and  Jennings (who is mayor pro tem) are on one side of the aisle. 

Not sure how many signatures are needed, but they have 60 days to get them. 

Arizona: New Book out on the Arizona State Senate President recall of 2011

Randy Parraz was one of the leaders of the successful recall of Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce in 2011 and he has a new book out "Dignity by Fire: Dismantling Arizona's Anti-Immigration Machine."

Michigan: Three Winfield Township Board members ousted in recall

Winfield Township Supervisor Phyllis Larson, Clerk Colleen Stebbins and Trustee John Black were all ousted in recall votes. Larson lost to Ryan VanSolkema (543-487), Black lost to Julia Potratz (525-503) and Stebbins lost to Ken Bloom (526-506)

The recall was over complaints about ordinances dealing with wind and solar energy. The three were in favor of wind and solar power projects.At the same vote, an ordinance over wind was shot down, 355-736. 

There are debates over the publication of public notices in a weekly paper and whether publishing only in a weekly shopper that doesn't have online publication counts. 

There was also a recall effort against Treasurer Cathy Killinger and Trustee Steve Cole, though it is not clear what happened with those. 

An earlier solar ordinance lost a referendum vote.

California: San Francisco Recall Elections revisited -- DA and School Board appointee elections

Still waiting for the final results, but it sounds like two of the three San Francisco School Board appointees have made it through the election, while Ann Hsu is leading in her race against Alida Fisher. All three were appointed to replace members who lost a recall race. 

District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, who replaced Chesa Boudin after his recall, is up by 10% and has declared victory, though we still have ballots to count. 

Arkansas: First woman to vote in the South voted in a recall election (replacement race)

Cool history here, as Fort Smith's Dymple Johnson (who was also the first female dental hygenist) was the first woman to vote in the entire south on November 13, 1917. 

The election was a replacement race for Mayor John Heskitt Wright (who was also on the ballot). Arch Monro was the winner. Wright was recalled for his support for union activity including a strike. He seems to have been removed by the courts for failing to arrest vandals.

Michigan: Two Richfield officials ousted, one survives recall vote

Richfield Township Supervisor John Bawol (R) lost to Ray Wlosinski (NP) (829-780), Clerk Greg Watt (R) lost to Pam Scott (D) (893-850), but Treasurer Terri Hidey (R) survived without an opposition (1267-70) for Election Day, November 8. 

The recall seemed to be about an increase in salaries, though the board stated that it was paired with a cutback in health insurance. 

Maine: Still waiting for Medway Select Board member recall info

Still waiting to see the results from the Medway Select Board Member Peggy Jo Stanley (R) over her recall election on Election Day. Petitions accuse Stanley of being disruptive at meetings and yelling at staffers. Stanley is also a member of the Maine House of Representatives, though she is not running for reelection.

87 valid signatures were handed in. Petitioners needed 79.

Missouri: Three Robertson Fire District Board members lose both recall vote and replacement race

All three members of the Robertson Fire Protection District Board, Joan Noel (765-652), Becky Reinsmith (781-628), Mike Conley (772-645) are facing a recall vote on Election Day, lost their recall vote, and lost their replacement race as well. 

The board members are running in the replacement, which we've seen in Massachusetts, but was apparently quite the shock to at least one reporter in Missouri. Interestingly enough (and as we've seen before), the vote in the replacement race dropped for the official facing the recall, but not the challenger. It broke down list this:

Noel (427)  lost to Jennifer Guyton (791), Conley (469) lost to Steve Field (757)  and Reinsmith (455) lost to Maggie Sieve (754). 

The board is blamed for putting Hazelwood near bankruptcy due to a "costly contract." Supporters of the board members claim that Hazelwood is trying to get out of the contract with the recalls. The issues listed include failure to lower costs, retaliation, failing to turn over public records and selling property for below market value.

 

Michigan: Royal Oak Township Supervisor, Clerk and Trustees survive recall votes

Royal Oak Township Supervisor Donna Squalls (59.3%), Clerk Gwendolyn Turner (66.9% in favor of her) and Trustees Wanda Allen (34.3%) and Jeff Cushingberry (33.2%) also survived an Election Day recall vote. 

The issue seems to be their vote for a pay raise. 

Ohio: Split decision in East Cleveland Recall -- Mayor survives by 28 votes (update -- 19), Council VP loses

After a ton of confusion, East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King survived a recall vote by 28 votes (update -- 19 votes), 1226-1254 on Election Day, though Council Vice President Ernie Smith lost, 534-389.  

The confusion on what will happen started with the decision by the Ohio Supreme Court, which threw out part of a suit filed to stop the recall, but an open question may result in the recall being tossed out regardless. 

The Ohio Supreme Court rejected part of a lawsuit filed by the East Cleveland Law Director Willa Hemmons to stop the upcoming Election Day The decision ruled against a complaint that the petition exceeded the 200 word limit.

However, the court seems to have held that the Clerk of the Council is responsible for certifying a recall petition instead of the board of elections. The clerk seems to have stated that she is deferring to the Hemmons on the matter. 

Notably, previous articles seemed to suggest that Hemmons was acting in a private capacity and being paid by King himself. Haven't seen that point in recent articles. 

Petitioners claim that King used the police to target his Democratic primary opponents in 2021 for towing a van he was using to promote another candidate using loudspeakers. They also claim that he does not actually reside in East Cleveland and that he used city contractors for personal work. Smith was supposedly illegally appointed and missing city property and not reporting income to the IRS.

There were additional complaints against the recall, including that petitioners handed in 322 valid signatures and needed 311. The law requires that signers voted in the last election. Hemmons claims that 43 signers did not, so their signatures should be tossed out. 

King has been mayor since 2016 when the last mayor, Gary Norton, was kicked out in a recall with the council president, Thomas Wheeler.