Alaska: Group started to Recall Governor

Governor Mike Dunleavy (R), who announced major spending cuts, is the subject of a Facebook group looking for his recall. No word on whether there is any intention to actually take out petitions. Alaska is a malfeasance standard/judicial recall state, so a showing of cause is needed (though the state courts has taken a lenient view of the the cause requirement in past instances).

Petitioners need to first get 28,501 signatures before the Division of Elections will consider if they meet the malfeasance standards. Then they would need 71,252 signatures to get to the ballot.

Update: Additionally meetings have taken place.

Michigan: London Clerk resigns; petitions approved against two trustees

London Clerk Lisa Marie Francis has resigned in the face recall campaign, and the Election Board has approved petitions for the recall effort against Trustees Penny Turner and Roger Werstein.

The issue appears to be a $995 payment from the general fund after a court case was settled over a violation of a township ordinance. The payment was against the advice of the township counsel. Turner was elected to replace Richard Horn, who lost his seat in the November 2018 recall.

There was also a petition to recall Trustee Gary Taepke, who survived a recall vote last year, but that petition was denied because the Taepke is exempt from facing two recalls in a term.

Massachusetts: State clears Milford Treasurer over claim that he worked against recall group

Milford Town Treasurer Christopher Pilla was cleared by the state ethics commission of a complaint that he violated ethics laws in alleged pressuring a local club to remove a room reservation for the recall of Selectman William Kingkade Jr.. The petition failed, with no signatures handed in.

The issue was a vote to not renew the police chief's contract as well as a single care crash that he was in. Petitioners need about 3700 signatures to get on the ballot. They claimed to have gotten about 2000.

North Dakota: Tower City Mayor survives recall vote

Tower City Mayor Scott Salberg survived a recall vote 74-25 for Randy Crist. The recall was over a kitchen sink of claims, including poor performance of duties, harassment, removal of city records and failure to conduct city business in an open fashion.

The article notes that there were 22 recall petitions for mayors statewide since 2001.

California: Four Westminister officials face recall effort

Westminister Mayor Tri Ta and Councilmembers Kimberly Ho, Chi Charlie Nguyen and Tao Do are facing recall efforts. There is a split here -- Ta, Ho and Nguyen were facing recall threats by Do's supporters. Now, others have targeted Do. The fifth councilman Sergio Contreras does not seem to be facing a recall threat (he appears to support Do).

Petitioners would need about 8,736 signatures to get on the ballot.

Michigan: Midland Councilman petitions rejected on clarity grounds by Election Commission

The recall filing against nine-term Midland City Councilman Marty Wazbinski was rejected by the Election Commision over clarity issues. The recall was launched over his support for a "road diet" plan. Petitioners would need 1072 signatures to get on the ballot.

Update: The petitions have now been rejected three times.

Ballotpedia claims 50% drop off in recalls in 2019 from 2016-2018

Ballotpedia is claiming a drop in recalls of 50% in the 1st half of 2019, compared to each of the last three years. The site lists 72 total recall attempts. I have to look at my numbers for comparison purposes.

Colorado: Two Cripple Creek-Victory School District Board Members Resign; One still on the ballot

The recall against Cripple Creek-Victory School Board members has resulted in two resignations, as Treasurer Dennis Jones and Secretary Tonya Martin dropped out. Board President Tim Braun is still set for a recall by a July 16 mail-in ballot.

The recall is over claims of violation of the open record act and possibly a suspension of the superintendent. One of the leader was a former Head Start director who lost to Jones by 30 votes in November 2017.

Michigan: Three London officials facing petitions

London Clerk Lisa Marie Francis and Trustees Penny Turner and Roger Werstein are facing petitions over what seems to be a $995 payment from the general fund after a court case was settled over a violation of a township ordinance. The payment was against the advice of the township counsel. Turner was elected to replace Richard Horn, who lost his seat in the November 2018 recall.

Michigan: Grosse Pointe School Board recall rejected in clarity hearing

A recall effort against School Board treasurer Judy Gafa and Board Secretary Kathleen Abke and trustee Christopher Profeta  were rejected in a clarity hearing. The recall was over a plan to close schools. Profeta actually appeared to vote against the closure plan, which passed 5-2

Update: Language has been approved against Gafa and Abke. Another attempt against Profeta was rejected.

Taiwan: Kaohsiung Mayor facing recall threat

Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-Yu is facing a recall threat. Petitioners would first need 22,814 signatures (1% of the electorate) to get past an initial hurdle, then 228,134 signatures (10%) to get past a second, then they need the yes vote to at least equal 25% of the electorate  -- which is estimated to be over 600,000.

Michigan: Midland Councilman facing petitions over road diet plan

Nine-term Midland City Councilman Marty Wazbinski is facing a recall effort over his support for a "road diet" plan.

Petitioner needs 1072 signatures to get on the ballot.

UK: Analysis of problems with the UK Recall law and operation

Sir Paul Silk, the former Clerk of the House of Commons, wrote two articles examining the problems with the recall law, some of which are very familiar to the US audience.

Michigan: One of two petitions against Albion Mayor withdrawn

One of the attempts to recall Albion Mayor Dave Atchison has ended, with the sponsors canceling the clarity/factualness hearing. The recall was over a group of complaints regarding behavior to other council members and a vote against Indigenous People's Day and bringing a second grocery store to the city.

Atchison is the third Albion official to face recall petitions this term. Albion Councilwoman Jeanette Spicer is facing a petition claiming that the councilwoman is not responsive. Petitioners need 139 signatures. The Mayor Pro Tempore Sonya Brown is facing a recall fight over the removal of the head of the Albion Public Safety Department. Brown's recall has been in court.

California: Pine Mountain Lake Association Board of Directors facing petitions

The private, gated community is looking to recall the five member board is facing petitions over a plan to spend $2-$2.5 million to fix buildings near the golf course.  The community would have to hire a private election consultant to run the election.

Michigan: Grosse Pointe School Board members targeted in recall petition

School Board treasurer Judy Gafa and Board Secretary Kathleen Abke and trustee Christopher Profeta are all facing recall threats over a plan to close schools. Profeta actually appeared to vote against the closure plan, which passed 5-2.

Michigan: Two more Flint Council member petitions approved

Petition language has been approved against Santino Guerra,and Allan Griggs after previously being rejected. Councilmember Monica Galloway's petitions have also been approved. Kate Fields is up for debate on Thursday.
Guerra and Fields were facing a petition over a vote to extend a $12 million waste removal contract. Galloway is facing the petition over being absent for a vote to enter into a $5.6 million contract with a construction company.

Fields claims that Mayor Karen Weaver, Councilmember Eric Mays  and Community Liaison for Economic Development Aonie Gilcreast are behind the recall effort. Mays has acknowledged this.

UK: Conservative MP Chris Davies will be candidate for in by-election for his seat that was vacated by recall petition

The Conservative Party is keeping Brecon and Radnor MP Chris Davies as the candidate in the upcoming byelection that was forced by a recall petition. Davies was removed after 10,005 signatures were handed in (petitioners needed 5303 (10% of voters) to get on the ballot.

Davies was fined 1500 pounds and hit with 50 hours of community service over two false expense invoices for landscape photographs. Since the sentence was under 12 months, he is not automatically ousted.

The election will take place on July 25 or August 1.

New Jersey: Recall threatened against Hackensack School Board Member

Hackensack School Board member Frances Cogelja is being threatened with a recall for his criticism of an LGBT-inclusive curriculum for students. Petitioners would need about 5400 signatures to get on the ballot.

UK: Second recall makes the ballot, as signatures handed in against Conservative MP Chris Davies forces by-election

The UK is now set to have its second recall, as petitioners got enough signatures to get Brecon and Radnor MP Chris Davies (Conservative) on the ballot. According to UK law, Davies is removed, and now must face a new by-election (the Conservative Party is debating whether he will be the candidate). 10,005 signatures were handed in (petitioners needed 5303 (10% of voters) to get on the ballot.

Davies was fined 1500 pounds and hit with 50 hours of community service over two false expense invoices for landscape photographs. Since the sentence was under 12 months, he is not automatically ousted.