Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Taiwan: KMT Chair calls for recall of President

Following a huge protest and the massive amount of recall efforts against Kuomintang (KMT) officials, the KMT Chair Eric Chu is now calling for President Lai Ching-te to face a recall effort, though there is no chance it will move forward.. 

Lai cannot be recalled in the first year (so that would start on May 20). The petition would need 1/4th of the legislators to sign on, and then the vote of 2/3rds to move forward

Virginia: Signatures handed in against four Purcellville officials

Signatures have been turned in against Purcellville Mayor Christopher Bertaut, Vice Mayor Ben Nett and Councilmember Susan Khalil and Carol Luke. The recall is reportedly over a vote to get rid of the police department, a firing of the town manager and replacement with a former mayor. Nett was apparently fired from the police department days before the vote. The officials fault the minority on the board for the issues.

Petitioners handed in about 1200 signatures each and need 494 per official. 


Nebraska: Petitions taken out against Scotts Bluff Commissioner

Petitions have been taken out against Scotts Bluff County Commissioner Charlie Knapper over alleged issues with a county employee. 

Petitioners need 595 signatures in 30 days. 

Saturday, April 26, 2025

Missouri: Petitioners may have handed in 60K signatures for recall of Jackson County Executive/All-Star Royals 2nd Baseman

Petitioners have claimed to handed in 60,000 signatures for the recall of Jackson County Executive Frank White -- (yes, the Royals former All-Star 2nd Baseman), though they need (or needed -- I'm not clear) to raise $150,000 to get the petitioners to hand it in. 

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.

Wisconsin: Wrightstown School Board President ousted

Wrightstown President Angela Hansen-Winker was ousted in a recall, losing 1019- 456 to Nicole Verbetento on April 22.

The recall is over claims that she misused legal counsel and mishandled a superintendent investigation.

Fellow school board member Rayn Warner is leading the recall effort. Another board member Tiffany Van Vreede is mentioned as a supporter as well. 

The Wrightstown School Board Clerk has resigned right before the recall vote. Petitioners handed in 1200 signatures, not sure how many were needed or were verified.

Maine: Freedom Select Board Member and Blair Witch Project Star ousted in recall vote

Freedom Select Board member Heather Donahue was ousted in an April 23rd recall vote, 122-91. 

Donahue, famous for her leading role in "The Blair Witch Project," faced the recall over whether a road that a family has claimed has public access or not (Donahue has argued that it does). The petitioners are complaining that Donahue cut brush and trimming on the road and used orange spray paint to mark trees on the public easement. 

There are also issues of complaints about the old board (Donahue was elected last year), including late IRS payments and budget confusion, so this may be part of an old residents vs. new residents fight. 

Another Selectman, Ryan Willette, resigned, which means the board no longer has a quorum. Petitioners handed in 73 signatures and needed 46 valids.

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Washington: Camas City Council member facing recall effort

Camas City Council John Svilarich is facing a recall effort, with a judge set to a hold a hearing on whether petitions can move forward 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.

Monday, April 21, 2025

Oakland: Barbara Lee wins Oakland Mayoral Replacement race

Longterm former Congresswoman Barbara Lee has won the replacement race, with the numbers currently sitting at 53-47% over Loren Taylor, after the ranked choice voting. The race was close, as Taylor led early. Taylor actually led in the 2022 race before losing to former Mayor Sheng Thao due to the ranked choice voting system.

There have been numerous complaints about voter turnout in the special, though notably not much discussion of the fact that the recall vote in November saw a much higher voter turnout than Thao's original election in 2022. And little blame has passed to the legislature for removing the same-day replacement vote. 

Turnout seems to be 36% of registered voters.

Friday, April 18, 2025

Minnesota: Petitions taken out against International Falls council members

Four International Falls Council members Pete Kalar, Tim Wegner, Walt Buller and Mike Holden, are facing petitions. 

Petitioners are upset about renovations on a new police office, rather than sharing the sheriff's office or using the old center. There's also complaints about other funding issues including a bond for an arena and a stadium and street repairs. 

Councilmembers allegedly used slurs in referring to participants at a meeting.

The clerk rejected the petitions, allegedly claiming that signers failed to include birthdates (which does not appear to be required) and the petition did not include a valid reason. Minnesota is a malfeasance standard state, so this could prove to be a significant hurdle, though the courts usually weigh in here. 

Arizona: Petitions taken out against four GOP House leaders

Petitions have been taken out against four Arizona Republican State House members, Speaker Steve Montenegro, Majority Leader Michael Carbone, Appropriations Chair David Livingston and Representative Matt Gress.

The recall is over delays for a supplemental funding for the Division of Developmental Disabilities. 

Petitioners need 25% of turnout by August 15, which is, Gress 34,399, Montenegro, 27,381, Livingston, 26,342, and Carbone, 21,747.

California: San Fernando Mayor and councilmembers facing recall threats over sanctuary city vote

San Fernando Mayor Mary Mendoza and Councilmembers Joel Fajardo and Victoria Garcia are facing recall threats over their votes against becoming a sanctuary city. Petitioners would need 2499 signatures to get on the ballot.

Nebraska: Falls City Mayor facing petitions

Petitions have been taken out against Falls City Mayor Mark Harkendorff following the resignation of all six members of the City Utilities line crew. Petitions blame "unprofessional" and "insulting" behavior.

Petitioners need 475 signatures. 

The recall has been started by former Councilmember Kaylie Ractliffe.

Oregon: Unity Community Hall and Recreation District Board member facing May 6 recall vote

Unity Community Hall and Recreation District Board Member Daniel Davis is facing a recall vote over the use of the hall. Petitioner seems to be complaining about a pop-up pub run by a nonprofit that Davis helped found. Ballots have to be returned by May 6.

123 signatures were turned in.

Thursday, April 17, 2025

California: Oakland Mayor Replacement Race close in first count

The Oakland Mayoral Replacement race is shaping up to be a close contest, with City Councilmember Loren Taylor leading former Representative Barbara Lee, though we have quite a ways to go before we know anything. Taylor actually led in the 2022 race before losing to former Mayor Sheng Thao due to the ranked choice voting system.

There have been numerous complaints about voter turnout in the special, though notably not much discussion of the fact that the recall vote in November saw a much higher voter turnout than Thao's original election in 2022. And little blame has passed to the legislature for removing the same-day replacement vote. 

Turnout seems to be 36% of registered voters.

Taiwan: Six people charged with falsifying signatures in recall effort

Six people were charged (and released on bail) in claims that they falsified signatures in recall efforts against legislators. Notably, they all were allegedly forging signatures against Democratic Progressive Party candidates. Most of the recalls are targeting the Kuomintang candidates. 

Ballotpedia Q1 recall report

Here

Arizona: Three South Tucson recalls make the August 5th ballot, lead petitioner is councilmember/former Mayor (and former recall loser)

Recall Elections against South Tucson City Council members Roxanna Valenzuela, Brian Flagg and Cesar Aguirre has been set for August 5th. The recall was originally over claims that Valenzuela does not meet the residency requirement and the other two helped cover it up, though it seems other issues about ignoring the lead petitioner have cropped up. 

The leader of the recall effort is current councilmember and former  Mayor Paul Diaz led the effort, who also has claims that they bought a motel that seems to be used by the government to put up some people (perhaps coming out of rehab) and their support for Prop. 409, a tax to fund public safety (which passed).

Diaz himself lost a recall vote in 2015 and then came back in 2018 with a recall against other councilmembers and regained the mayoralty.

Diaz got 163 signatures for Flagg, 170 for Aguirre and 173 for Valenzuela.

Wisconsin: Wrightstown School Board Clerk resigns before recall vote

The Wrightstown School Board Clerk has resigned right before the recall vote against President Angela Hansen-Winker on April 22 (Nicole Verbeten running against her.) The recall is over claims that she misused legal counsel and mishandled a superintendent investigation.

Fellow school board member Rayn Warner is leading the recall effort. Another board member Tiffany Van Vreede is mentioned as a supporter as well. 

Petitioners handed in 1200 signatures, not sure how many were needed or were verified.

California: City Clerk sues petitioners in recall effort against Lancaster Mayor

Lancaster City Clerk has sued the lead petitioners (all 86 signers) in the ongoing recall effort against six-term Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris, claiming that the petition contains false information.

The recall was focused on a whole group of subjects, including changing the term from two to four years -- though this was back in 2010 (it was a voter measure), a proposed project for the homeless and his comments about a purge, giving homeless free fentanyl and some proposal for Chinese birth tourism in 2013 (though apparently not proposed by Parris.

The lead petitioners appear to be two of the people who Parris beat in the election last year, Republican Mark Maldonado and Democrat Johnathon Ervin. Parris won (in a field of 10) 4763 to 3648 for Erivn and 3190 for Maldonado.

California: Former California Supreme Court Justice Joseph Grodin dies

Former California Supreme Court Justice Joseph Grodin passed away this week. Grodin was one of three Justices (with Rose Bird and Cruz Reynoso) ousted in a 1986 mandatory retention election. This is frequently and erroneously referred to as a recall election, though obviously quite different. 

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Alaska: Judge rejects attempt to stop Delta Junction Councilmember recall set for April 18

A judge has rejected the attempt to issue an injunction to stop tomorrow's (April 18th) recall against Delta Junction City Council Member Stormie Mitchell. The recall is over claims that Mitchell is unprepared at meetings and delays business. Mitchell was elected to a one-year term in October.

Alaska has a malfeasance standard/judicial recall law, but this seems to be another argument in the recent court cases that have weakened the law significantly. 

The petition had 41 signatures. No word on how many were accepted.

Delta Junction had a recall in 2001 against Thomas "Roy" Gilbertson and Susan "Susie" Kemp over a private prison construction. Both survived the effort.