Friday, May 16, 2025

Maine: Dexter School Board members facing recall vote on June 10th

Dexter School Board Members Judy Saunders and Alisha Ames are facing the voters on June 10th. The pro-recall group is called "Stop the Power Trip!" The group complains about conflict of interest including Ames' involvement with a homeschool co-op and that Saunders' daughter works in the district.

Nebraska: Harvard Mayoral recall cancelled due to grace period

A recall effort against Harvard Mayor Nathanael Brown scheduled for June 10 has been cancelled, as the mayor has a 6th month grace period at the start of the term (which was September 16, 2024) and petitions were handed in in January. Don't see anything about what the recall is about. 

Louisiana: Petitions taken out against St. Bernard Parish President

St. Bernard Parish President Louis Pomes is facing petitions over his support for a bill that would allow the Port of New Orleans to construct a road connecting the International Terminal to the highway.  He opposed the bill HB 616 in the campaign,

Petitioners need 5451 signatures by November 11.

Texas: Balch Springs Councilmember facing petitions

Balch Springs Councilmember Paula Garcia over claims of misconduct. The leader of the effort, Jess Reaka, is a former Parks & Recreation advisory board member who was removed due to social media posts and does not live in the district. 

Petitioners need 54 signatures (50% of turnout) in 30 days.

Missouri: Petitioners hand in additional 20K signatures for recall of Jackson County Executive/All-Star Royals 2nd Baseman

Petitioners have handed in another 20,000 signatures, on top of the claimed 60,000 signatures for the recall of Jackson County Executive Frank White -- (yes, the Royals former All-Star 2nd Baseman). It sounds like over 80,000 have been handed in, though this has been an odd recall effort. 

Previously, the group said they need (or needed -- I'm not clear) to raise $150,000 to get the petitioners to hand it in. This appears to be a separate group handing in the signatures that raise the total to 80,000. It is not clear how that worked.

The recall is over complaints that property taxes are going up between 30% - 400%. There is a complaint that White's salary went up 7%. A recall was threatened last year as well. White says that it was over his vote against a Stadium, and the leaders of the petition (who owe $150,000 for polling), are contractors who wanted a yes vote.

Three legislators have asked the Attorney General for an investigation into White

Petitioners would need 42,902 valids to get on the ballot.

California: Lead petitioner quits role in recall effort against San Francisco Supervisor

The lead petitioner in the recall effort against San Francisco Supervisor Joel Engardio has resigned from the role over debates about spending -- reportedly, the campaign has spent over $100,000 for signature collection and is looking to put in some more, though they are in debt. Engardio has a 4-1 advantage in funds. 

The recall was over the passage of Prop. K, which will lead to a new park and the closing of the Great Highway. 

Proposition K passed with 56% of the vote, but in Engardio's district, the vote was 63.7% opposed, so real risk. 

Petitioners need about 9400 signatures by late May.

Articles have noted that Engardio was a big supporter of the recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin (who is a constituent of Engardio and says he will vote against the recall). 

Idaho: Caldwell Mayor and City Councilmembers send cease-and-desist letter to petitioner over comments

City Council members have sent a cease-and-desist letter to the lead petitioner in the recall against Caldwell Mayor Jarom Wagoner and City Councilmember Geoff Williams, Chris Allgood, Mike Dittenberg and Brad Doty demanding that he stop calling them a "crime family." The petitioner claims the reference is to a conviction for a councilmember's wife for misusing funds two decades ago.

The recall is over the approval of hotel which led to demonstrations for "Save the Dirt Lot." The site is currently used for event parking. There are also complaints about parking meters and the council's approval of the police chief. 

Petitioner would need 20% of signatures, which appears to be 5000, from registered voters in 75 days.

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Washington: Recall effort against Mabton Mayor fails due to end of term grace period

The recall effort against Mabton Mayor Rachel Ruelas seems to have failed, as signatures were handed in days after the six month end of term grace period (they needed to be in by the 4th, but were in on the 12th). 

The failed recall was recently approved by the Washington Supreme Court, which upheld (6-3) the judicially approved recall petition. The court ruled that she failed to meet the deadline. Washington is a malfeasance standard state and judges usually toss out recall efforts as not meeting the statutorily delineated reasons for a recall.  

The recall effort came after the former city clerk was accused of allowing her boyfriend to abscond with $22K in checks and cash from the city. There also has been no access to two council agendas or eight recording of meetings. Council members have not seen the budget and there has been trouble with live-streaming meetings. 

Petitioners needed 59 signatures in 90 days. 

Note that one of the articles notes that recalls are not allowed to be held at the same time as the November general election, which is the opposite of how most states work. I'm not sure about how this works -- it does set dates for local elections and says recalls are excepted.  It does specify that recalls can't be held between a primary and general election date. However, it could make the April ballot.

Arizona: Signatures handed in against Nogales Councilmember

Signatures have been handed in against Nogales City Councilmember Saulo Bonilla over allegations  of a pattern of aggressive behavior, specifically to women. He is facing disorderly conduct charges (beyond the current complaint). Petitioners handed in 397 signatures and need 339.

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Maryland: Salisbury Mayor facing recall threats

Salisbury Mayor Randy Taylor is facing recall threats on social media. It seems to have to do with housing projects, though it's no one has yet acknowledged being behind the effort. One of the social media posts also notes that the City Manager left the job. 

Petitioners would need about 1577 signatures in 90 days.

Colorado: Woodland Park Councilmember resigns after recall makes the ballot

The only one of the four recall of the Woodland Park Councilmembers to get on the ballot, Carrol Harvey, has resigned before the vote.  The recalls was over a vote to repeal the city sales tax that sends $3M to the School District.  The Councilmembers complain that there is no itemization of moneys spent. The city voters previously shot down an attempt to get rid of the sales tax.

The recall effort against three other members failed. The ones against Jeffrey Geer and Steve Smith failed earlier.  

The recall effort against Councilmember Catherine Nakai had 627 were handed in and 507 validated. They needed 577. 

Petitioners handed in 755 signatures against Harvey, 630 were validated. They needed 577.

Petitioners handed in 755 signatures against Harvey, 630 were validated. They needed 577. Petitioners needed 721 for Geer and Smith. They got 657 for Geer and 649 for Smith. The reason for the difference in numbers is that Geer and Smith were elected in 2024 (a presidential election year) while Nakai and Harvey's seat (Harvey was appointed to fill a vacancy) was the lower turnout 2022 midterm. 

No word on the recall effort against Councilmember Terri Baldwin, was also targeted, but signatures were not turned in.


Canada: Alberta MLAs targeted in recall reffort

Alberta MLAs, Demetrios Nicolaides, Rajan Sawhney from the United Conservative Party have been targeted in a recall effort, both of them won in very close races over NDP candidates. There are also threats against Premier Danielle Smith and other cabinet members. 

Monday, May 12, 2025

Florida: New law attacks signature gathering efforts for initiatives

Florida has adopted a law cracking down on volunteer collecting for signature efforts. Not sure how this would impact recalls (as opposed to initiatives), but it does require background checks and training for a volunteer to collect more than 25 signatures from non-family members.

Non-recall op-ed in the Washington Examiner on third terms

Here's my Washington Examiner op-ed on the difficult of officials seeking third terms.  I don't always share the non-recall op-eds, but I think the look at how governors' support falls off in a race for a third term might be worth a look.

California: Capitola Councilmember resigns in face of recall effort

Capitola Vice Mayor Alexander Pedersen resigned in the face of a recall effort. Pedersen said that he moved out of the city after a "campaign of legal harassment and intimidation."

The lead petitioners seemed to have filed some ethical complaints, the reason seems to be his support for costal rail trail project (and a bike path on that project). Pedersen was also on the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, which he is leaving as well. 

Friday, May 9, 2025

California: Blue Lake Mayor and two councilmembers targeted in recall effort

Blue Lake Mayor John Sawatzky, Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani and Councilmember Kat Napier are all facing recall efforts following the removal of the City Manager. Her support for a development project seemed to be one of the issues with the manager. 

Petitioners need about 252 signatures to get the recall on the ballot. An ex-mayor (who lost by a coin flip) seems to be one of the leaders of the recall effort.

Massachusetts: Dalton adopts recall law at town meeting

Dalton voters approved a recall law at the annual town meeting on May 5 (though unsure of the vote). Petitioners would need 50 percent of turnout in 20 days, and there is an absentee veto, meaning that the vote total must exceed 80 percent of the votes cast in the most recent town election. 

The recall occurs as town leadership has faced attacks with a town rejection of the police budget. 

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Colorado: Recall effort against Pueblo Mayor fails

The recall effort against Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham has failed. Petitioners needed 6300 signatures and claim they gathered 3046 unverified. 

The recall was about complaints of removing nonprofit funding, retaliation against opposition and spending too much time on social media during council meetings. 

Colorado: One of three Woodland Park Councilmembers makes the ballot; Signatures handed in for fourth member

Only one of three recalls against Woodland Park Councilmembers made the ballot, with Carrol Harvey (who needed the least amount of signatures) set to face the voters. The recall effort against Jeffrey Geer and Steve Smith both failed. 

Signatures have also been turned in against Councilmember Catherine Nakai -- 627 were handed in, they need 577. 

Petitioners handed in 755 signatures against Harvey, 630 were validated. They needed 577. Petitioners needed 721 for Geer and Smith. They got 657 for Geer and 649 for Smith. The reason for the difference in numbers is that Geer and Smith were elected in 2024 (a presidential election year) while Nakai and Harvey's seat (Harvey was appointed to fill a vacancy) was the lower turnout 2022 midterm. 

No word on the recall effort against Councilmember Terri Baldwin, was also targeted, but signatures were not turned in.

The recall is over a vote to repeal the city sales tax that sends $3M to the School District.  The Councilmembers complain that there is no itemization of moneys spent. The city voters previously shot down an attempt to get rid of the sales tax.

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Washington: Camas City Council member recall effort moves forward

The recall effort against Camas City Council John Svilarich is moving forward, with a judge greenlighting the effort under Washington's malfeasance standard.. Svilarich was arrested on criminal assault and reckless endangerment charges, after an argument over the disposal of a cigarette butt led to a rock throwing and a gun being pulled. 

Among the lead petitioners are Svilarich's opponent in the last election, a losing mayoral candidate and the husband of one of the other councilors.