Texas: Sinton city council recall goes to the courts

Sinton is joining a host of other cities throughout the country in failing to put a recall on the ballot, necessitating judicial intervention. Petitions were handed in to recall three Sinton city council members Eloy Lopez, Linda Guzman-Alaniz and Michelle Soliz. According to the council members, the petitions didn't state a reason, though the petitioner says that the petitions were specific (members weren't following their oaths).

The actual basis of the recall appears to be the decision to fire City Manager Jackie Knox, displaying unfamiliarity with the city charter and hiring the City Attorney.

Wisconsin: Elmwood Park President ousted in recall

Elmwood Park President Audrey Viau has been ousted in a recall. Former Village Trustee Tom Mills claims that he received 134 votes to 79 for Viau.

The issue was a plan to build a Walmart.

California: Threat to recall San Bernardino councilman not a crime

A threat to recall Councilman Chas Kelley unless he put a city charter repeal on the November ballot has been found not to illegal (they were looking at it as a bribery or extortion charge).The threat was made at a city council meeting.  I'm amazed that this was even investigated (though it may not be up to the D.A. whether to look into this).


Here's what the councilman said:

"I would say that it's extortion or bribery," Kelley said. "`If you do this, this won't happen.' That's wrong, and elected officials should not be intimidated or coerced, blackmailed into making a decision one way or another."

The Petitioner is still looking to recall Kelley, Councilman John Valdivia and Councilwoman Wendy McCammack.

Louisiana: Rapides Parish School Board recall not on November ballot, continuing to collect signatures

The recall effort against Rapides Parish School Board member Julie McConathy will not get on the November ballot, but will continue, as they seek some 4,000 signatures. The recall was started due to the decision to not renew the Superintendent's contract.

California: Willows' ouster of police chief leads to recall discussion

Willows City Council's decision to get rid of Police Chief Bill Spears has started discussion of a recall. 

California: Yorba Linda Councilman recall attempt fails to get signatures

The recall attempt against Yorba Linda Councilman John Anderson failed, with petitioners handing in 7,856 signatures -- they needed 8.668 (20% of registereds).

The issue was Anderson's vote to have the Orange County Sheriff's Department replace the Brea Police Department as the agency that patrols Yorba Linda.

Wisconsin: Recalls costs GAB $13.5 million

The GAB announced that the May and June recalls costs $13.5 million.

California: Dana Point Library recall temporarily suspended

The Dana Point Library recall has been suspended with a TRO.

New Mexico: Cost of cancelled Ruidoso Municipal School District Board recalls

The cancelled two Ruidoso Municipal School District Board members recalls will cost $3,800 in ballots and suplies, $1,131.36 in legal notice charges, and over $11,000 in fees, not including August and September.

California: Alameda City Councilman facing petitions, though assembly race may moot the race

Alameda City Council member and Vice Mayor Rob Bonta is facing recall petitions, though it may all be moot if he wins an Assembly seat in November.

Bonta finished as the first in the June primary for the assembly seat (36%). California is a top-two state, so Bonta moves on to face the second place candidate in November.

Petitioners need 8,374 signatures (20 percent of the city's registered voters) to get Bonta's recall on the ballot. They are continuing to collect signatures in case Bonta loses the assembly race.

Bonta voted to approve zoning rules that would allow new multi-family housing to be built in Alameda,

Florida: Port St. Lucie mayoral recall fails to get the signatures

The recall attempt against Mayor JoAnn Faiella failed, with petitioners getting about 3,500 signatures, well short of the 4,951 needed.

Texas: AG rules that signature petitions in Sinton recall must be made public, though allows addresses to be withheld

Texas' Attorney General's Office has ruled that the petitions for the recall of three Sinton City Council members must be made public. The three council members and city attorney were questioning the validity of the signatures, but rather than show the signatures, the City Secretary punted to the Attorney General.

The Assistant Attorney General said that the addresses can be withheld, though that seems to be a strange ruling, as one of the complaints is that some of the petitioners were non-residents.

There is also a complaint that one of the petition leaders is a a niece of the city manager, whose firing led to the recall effort. This fact is disputed, and I'm not sure why it would matter.

Update: Richard Winger from the invaluable Ballot Access News has added an explanatory comment below.

Alaska: Holy Cross City Council recall effort charged with misdemeanor assault

One of the officials from the controversial failed Holy Cross City Council recall has been charge with misdemeanor assault.

California Dana Point Library Board contests recall in court

The Dana Point Library board of directors are suing to have the upcoming recall on Sunday declared illegal.

The complaint focuses on an alleged failure to give proper notice of Sunday's special meeting to all eligible voting members of the Friends of the Library. They are also claiming that the petition doesn't meet the signature requirement.

Maine: Petitions handed in against Three Limestone Selectmen

Three Limestone Board of Selectmen members, Tom Devoe, Gary O’Neal and Jesse Philbrick, are potentially facing recalls, as petitioners have handed in 186 signatures calling for a recall election. The petitioners were handed in as two other selectmen and the Parks & Recreation Director all resigned.

The three selectmen all voted to end the town’s contract with Fort Fairfield for shared services of Fire Chief Paul Durepo, which was reversed days later. The selectmen also unanimously voted to not re-appoint Limestone’s Police Chief Stacey Mahan, which was also reversed.

The recall was adopted in Limestone in 2010. Looks like the Selectmen may not be racing to put this one on the ballot.

Texas: Sinton City Manager fired as recall scheduled for May

This one is coming to a head. The City Manager was fired. The attacks on the City Manager were what prompted the recall attempts against three council members in the first place.

Tennessee: Chattanooga mayor recall knocked down by appellate court

An Appellate Court has upheld a lower court ruling preventing the recall of Mayor Ron Littlefield. The decision (which I haven't seen), holds that the statute was valid, but the petitioners fell short of the signature requirement. The problem with the recall was a discrepancy between state law (which had a 15% of registered voters requirement) and the City Charter (Which had 50% of turnout -- a lower figure). Petitioners claim they were given an incorrect figure for the number of signatures needed.

California: Judge considers halting KPFA recall

Here

Michigan: Petition for Attorney General recall still stalled

The petition has still not won approval from three member panel, who claim a lack of clarity. Issue there is medical marijuana.

Canada: Sudsbury's Mayor's push for recall law shot down by councillors

Mayor Marianne Matichuk attempt to get the city councillors to petition the province to support a recall law was shot down 12-1.