Michigan: Recall effort against Genesee County sheriff punted to state board

Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell is facing another petition effort, over a complaint that it  with the last one rejected due to language issues. Petitioner would need 33,000 signatures. Now the County Election Board has decided it is up to the State Board of Canvassers to rule, a new change from the 2012 law.

Michigan Election Law MCL 168.959, petitions recalling U.S. Senator, members of congress, elected state officials and "county officials except county commissioners, shall be filed with the secretary of state."
While that was last edited in 1976, the law was updated in December 2012, which designates that it go to the Board of State Canvassers.

Oregon: Portland Mayor, Commissioner facing petitions

Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and Commissioner Steve Novick are facing petitions over their proposed monthly street fee for maintenance. Petitioners need 34,921 signatures for each by October 9.

Also worth checking out is Andrew Theen's look at the history of recalls in Portland. There have been only two successful recall removals in Portland history, Commissioner John Mann in 1932 and Commissioner J.E. Bennett in 1952. Portland's Mayor Sam Adams and Vera Katz both faced failed recall attempts.

West Virginia: Bridgeport mayor facing recall petitions after indictment

Bridgeport Mayor Mario Blount, a pharmacist who was indicted on federal charges for improper distribution of prescription painkillers, is now facing petitions. Petitioners would need to get 10% (617). Because this is West Virginia, petitioner would need to pay a filing fee of $6,000 to $7000 to get it on the ballot.

Ohio: Richmond Heights Mayor facing petitions

Richmond Heights mayor Miesha Headen is facing recall petitions over her alleged "inability to compromise, negotiate and work effectively with others." Header is blamed for a recent decision to fire the city' IT services outside manager and for firing 10 employees  Petitioners need 725 (25% of total).

 Headen's supporters have started counterfire efforts, looking for the recall of Councilman Donald O'Toole, Council President David Roche, and Councilwoman Eloise Henry These are some of the issues that have lead to the political turmoil in Richmond Heights:

Texas: Palestine mayor, councilman recall petitions started

The recall effort against Mayor Therrell Thomas and Councilman Steve Presley has begun, and two council members have signed the petitions.

Arizona: Recalled State Senator Russell Pearce takes job in Maricopa County Treasurer's office

Here

Article on the Initiative and Direct Democracy

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Virginia: Court stops Loudoun County Supervisor recall trial

The recall trial effort against Loudoun County Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio has ended, with the County Commonwealth's Attorney filing a motion that there wasn't clear and convincing evidence to go forward with the rarely seen recall trial.

Petitioners had handed in 686 valid signatures. Delgaudio was accused of misusing his office for his nonprofit, Public Advocate of the United States, which campaigns against gay rights. He was previously censured by the Board of Supervisors.

California: San Marino Dog poop throwing mayor/City Councilman facing recall petitions

In one of the least surprising recall attempts of the year, San Marino City Councilman Dennis Kneier, who gained nation-wide infamy for throwing a bag of dog feces on his neighbor's property, is now facing petitions for his recall. Kneier resigned his mayoralty after the video of his behavior surfaced, but has kept his council seat. Petitioners would need 2,143 signatures (25% of registereds) in 90 days.

Colorado: State Senator recall victor faces November challenge

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Michigan: Gaines Township recalls gain opponents

Republican opponents have announced against two Gaines Township officials, Democrat Clerk Mike Dowler is facing a fight against Republican Sherry Johnson and Treasurer Diane Hyrman is facing William Pittsley. Supervisor Chuck Melki is also facing a recall. Here's some of the details on the very odd, not necessarily connected, recalls.

Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribal recall to take place this week

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Massachusetts: Lancaster signatures handed in

Lancaster Chairman Jean M. Syria and Vice Chairman/Clerk Susan E. Smiley are both facing possible recalls, as petitioners handed in more than the 471 signatures needed. They collected them in 16 days. The issue appears to be the firing of the Town Administrator, but the official allegations include:

They allege that both selectmen violated the Open Meeting Law and selectmen's policies and procedures, limited or eliminated public comment at public meetings, terminated the town administrator's contract without cause, wasted public money on unnecessary legal services and limited the ability of municipal staff to get or be reimbursed for professional development. 

Ms. Syria's recall affidavit says she engaged in vendor harassment — using public money for town counsel to undermine and violate previously approved contracts, and made negative and unsubstantiated public comments about townspeople, accusing them of being homophobic. 

Ms. Smiley's recall affidavit says she engaged in misappropriation of public money of the Lancaster co-ed softball league, did not turn over all of the revenues to the town treasurer, failed to disclose how the money was spent and did not get the consent of the town to disburse any of that money. 

Colorado: Woodland Mayor facing recall petitions

Woodland Park Mayor David Turley is facing petitions after his arrest on allegation of sexual assault on a child (it was an alleged relationship between Turley and a 17-year old boy). Petitioners need 252 signatures in 60 days. Turley is in his second term.

Oregon: Attempt against Portland Mayor and City Commissioner

Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and City Commissioner Steve Novick are facing a petitions for their support for a street fee. Petitioners need 34,921 to remove Novick. They need the signatures by October 9, 2014. No word yet on how many signatures are needed for the mayor.

The previous Portland Mayor also faced a recall attempt, which failed.

Idaho Eagle City Council President recall fails

The recall attempt against Eagle City Council President Mary McFarland, over claims of rude and disrespectful behavior and open meeting violations, failed. Petitioners needed 2459 signatures. They claim they got over 2000, but did not hand them in.

California: Modesto council member recall fails

The recall attempts against Modesto council members Jenny Kenoyer and David Cogdill Jr., failed, with petitioners unable to get the 3,300 signatures for Kenoyer or 3,100 for Cogdill.

The issue was a vote to amend Modesto's general plan to include Wood Colony, a farming community, which was opposed by a majority of Wood Colony residents.

The article does detail another failed recall attempt in Riverbank that is worth noting:

Riverbank voters, meanwhile, had every possible reason to recall Councilman Jesse James White and yet failed not once, but twice (2009 and 2010).
It didn’t seem to matter that the grand jury recommended White should resign because he wasn’t registered to vote when he applied to run for the council seat, or because of his arrest on drug charges during a probation search (to be on probation requires a previous conviction); the city had turned off the water to his apartment over a billing issue; and he missed numerous council meetings when the council needed to fill a vacant seat. The latter ultimately forced the city to spend $35,000 to hold a special election.
Each recall attempt fell several hundred votes shy. Of course, both came before White was convicted of two felonies (driving under the influence causing injury and resisting an Oakdale police officer) and pleaded no contest to misdemeanors (child endangerment and hit-and-run causing property damage). That likely would have been a game changer. He left the council when his term expired in 2012.

Oregon: Gold Hill city council members facing recall over medical marijuana vote

Four members of the Gold Hill City Council are facing recalls for their vote to allow medical marijuana dispensaries, which overturned a previously existing citywide moratorium. Petitioners handed in 63 signatures, they need somewhere in the neighborhood of 52 (unclear from the articles).

Since the vote, Breeze Botanicals opened.  The council members facing recalls are Margaret Dials, Lorraine Parks, Doug Reischman and Gus Wolf

Colorado: El Paso sheriff recall fails due to lack of signature buffer

The recall attempt against El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa, who is facing investigation into claims of sexual improprieties, has failed.

Petitioners needed 44,387 signatures. They claim to have collected 48,000, but do not feel that is enough to get them over. Based on past experience, they are likely correct (the rule of thumb is 15-120% failure rate on signatures, and in Colorado, it seems to be a lot higher). However, the recall of State Senator Angela Giron saw an incredibly low signature failure rate, so there was a possibility of success (though they likely did not use the same technology that made the Giron recall such an outlier). Petitioners claimed that having the county check the signatures would have cost $20,000, and they didn't want to run up that expense.

Some details on the Maketa allegations:

An investigation by the El Paso County Board of Commissioners into Maketa's conduct began in mid-May after complaints were filed accusing him of sexual improprieties, creating a hostile work environment, discrimination and removing almost all oversight of the Sheriff's Office annual budget.

Nine claims seeking $3.9 million in damages have been filed, El Paso County spokesman Dave Rose said. In late May, the county commissioners also cast a unanimous vote of no confidence in the sheriff and called for Maketa's resignation. Maketa has said he will not resign and intends to complete his third and final term, which ends Jan. 13, 2015.

Texas: Palestine Mayor, councilman facing recall threats

Palestine Mayor Therrell Thomas and Councilman Steve Presley are facing recall threats if they don't resign by July 14. The issue appears to be the firing of the police chief in June by the City Manager.