Washington: Pacific mayor recall leads to agreement with local city

Here

Poland: Recall of Elbag Mayor successful

A little late on this one, but worth pointing out:

The positions came up for grabs in mid-April when voters recalled the former mayor, Grzegorz Nowaczyk and local politicians from Civic Platform (PO) – the centre-right party led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk which controlled the local authority - in a referendum called for by the 'Free Elblag'

California: Petitioners fail to turn in signatures in Pasadena Councilman recall

The petition against Pasadena Councilman Steve Madison over his support for allowing an NFL team in the Rose Bowl has failed. Petitioners needed 2,866 signatures. They failed to turn in the petitions. Madison had previosuly voted in 2006 against an NFL proposal.

California: Five candidates running in Fontana School Board

Five candidates has announced to run in Fontana Unified School District recall on July 16.

California: Lake County Sheriff recall takes off due to heat wave

Petitioners against Lake County Sheriff Frank Rivero had to take off due to a heat wave. The group has till August 15 to get the 7,026 signatures (they claim to have over 7000 currently). However, if they want to have it on the November ballot, they need it in by August 6.

California: Op-ed on the San Bernardino recall

Here's my op-ed on the San Bernardino recall, which I note may be a record for most officials facing a recall at one time (10).

The key point is not that record though, it is the discussion of conflict of interest charges in recalls, something we see all the time (just look at the Arizona post below). Specifically this:

Recall proponents have been very concerned with the fact that City Clerk Gigi Hanna, who is one of the officials facing a recall petition, is also responsible for validating the signatures. She has already made controversial decisions over when signatures can be gathered. While Hanna may be perfectly up to the job -- and she has claimed that she legally cannot recuse herself -- experiences in other jurisdictions throughout the country show that the proponents have very real cause for concern. There have been numerous instances of local officials working to subvert recall efforts against themselves and their colleagues, most prominently by refusing to schedule election dates for recalls. This type of subversion has occurred multiple times in the last two years alone, from Massachusetts to Alaska to Texas to Colorado, in some cases completely stopping the recall from occurring. California state law is better than most: It actually prevents officials from refusing to schedule a recall -- it mandates that a recall be scheduled if local officials refuse to act. 

However, while California law protects the voters, an official's actions can still cause great, sometimes insurmountable, difficulties for voters. In the past, delays in recalls and fights over signature verification decisions resulted in expensive lawsuits, which the petitioners had to finance out of their own pockets while elected officials were able to defend the sometimes questionable decisions using government funds.

North Dakota: Recall of five Griggs County Commissioners set for October 8

The recall of five Griggs County commissioners has been set for Oct. 8. The issue was a vote to build a $3.5 million courthouse and emergency center, despite voters rejecting the idea three times.

Arizona: Petitioners claim that Continental Ranch Community Association Board refuses to schedule recall

Petitioners have handed in 667 signatures to recall the Continental Ranch Community Association board, president John Lambert, Peggy Bracken, Marilyn Stimpson, Connie DeLarge, Robert Volbrecht and Karie Westphalbut, the petitioners are claiming that the board is ignoring the rules. The board has to gold a recall by June 7.

Colorado: Morse recall possible candidate author of erotic novels

Kinda of a funny tale her, but of course it has resulted in some opposition to her candidacy.

Colorado: Secretary of State allows Morse recall to go forward

Big decision in Colorado, as the Secretary of State has ruled that the recall of Senate President John Morse should go forward. The Deputy Secretary of State said that the "petition format must be liberally construed in favor of allowing the recall exercise." This type of ruling is familiar -- the Arizona Supreme Court had a similar ruling against State Senate President Russell Pearce in 2011 (Pearce is the one legislative leader to have been knocked out by recall).

The Deputy Secretary of State rejected calls for recusal. Secretary of State Scott Gessler had spoken before pro-recall groups.

The Governor has to schedule a recall in 60 days from receiving the certification. That said, this is the first step, as Morse is bound to head right to court. In other states (Arizona, Michigan in 2011) Appellate Court Judges were willing to stop a recall right before the election (in both cases the Supreme Court overruled and let the recall go forward).

Colorado: Request for Secretary of State recusal by Senator Giron

Here -- still waiting for a ruling this afternoon on Morse's petition.

New Mexico: Las Vegas mayoral recall fails, as city clerk knocks down more than half the signatures

The attempted recall of Las Vegas (N.M.) Mayor Alfonso Ortiz Jr. seems to have failed, with the city clerk knocking out more than half the signatures. Petitioners are saying they have 10 days to cure the mistakes.

California: Notice filed against five Moreno Valley Council members

The recall effort against all five Moreno Valley City Council moved forward, as notices of intent to gather petitions have been sent. Mayor Tom Owings, Council members Marcelo Co, Jesse Molina, Richard Stewart  and Victoria Baca are all scheduled to be served. The council members are facing a federal corruption probe.

Petitioners need to get between 2,878 and 3,543 signatures in 120 days.

Louisiana: Petitions taken out in West Feliciana Parish police jurors for repealing charter

Petitions have been taken out against two West Feliciana Parish police jurors for their votes on repealing the charter. Jurors Lea Williams and John Kean are facing petitions and need 376 and 362 signatures respectively.

Virginia: Petitions handed in against Isle of Wright school board member

Petitions were handed in against Isle of Wright school board member, Herb De Groft for sending racist emails.. Petitions handed in 238 signatures and need 205. De Groft has already decided not to seek reelection. De Groft's hearing will be on Monday and supervisor Byron Bailey's will be on Friday. Virginia doesn't have a recall election, they have a judge decide the removal.

Michigan: Language approved in recall of two Algonac School board members

The rest of the board may face petitions in January (once they become eligible). The issue was a vote to privatize bus service.

Colorado: Claims of intimidation by Morse recall proponents

Seems like there's going to be a lot of these allegations by both sides going forward.

North Dakota: Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe Chairman ousted in recall vote

Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe Chairman Roger Yankton Sr. was kicked out in a recall, 284-145. He was replaced by Leander (Russ) McDonald, who Yankton defeated in 2011.

Wisconsin: More on the four year governor term

Here

Arizona: Attempts to recall US Senators Jeff Flake and John McCain over immigration reform

Apparently, there are two petitions to remove McCain. This is over Flake and McCain's support for the immigration reform bill (a similar effort is going on in Florida against Marco Rubio). As I've mentioned before, it is very unlikely that Supreme Court would allow a recall against a US Senator, though it is possible that the petitioners are pushing it to get a resignation.