Monday, June 30, 2025

California: Stockton Mayor facing recall threats

Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi is facing recall threats over issues of a city manager search and claims of Brown Act violations. Fugazi wished the proposed petitioners good luck, noting her performance in the last election.

Petitioners would need about 1700 signatures to get on the ballot.

Sunday, June 29, 2025

Nebraska: Petitions taken out against Valley Mayor and City Council President

Petitions have been taken out against Valley Mayor Cindy Grove and Council President John Batcher over a kitchen sink of complaints such as violations of open meeting laws. 

Petitioners needed 689 signatures for Grove and 367 for Batcher in 30 days.

Nebraska: Scotts Bluff Commissioner recall makes the ballot

The recall of Scotts Bluff County Commissioner Charlie Knapper has made the ballot. The recall is over alleged issues with a county employee. Knapper says the recall is over unregulated solar farms, opposition to sports tourism and older officials.

Petitioners handed in 710 valid signatures and needed 595.

Colorado: Recall of Creede Mayor and Board Trustee makes the ballot

The recall effort against Creede Mayor Jeffrey Larson and Board Trustee Lori Dooley has made the ballot. 

The issues seem to be a town manager employment agreement (who did not live in the town), a water and sewer rate increase; and complaints about a lack of participation at meeting.

Petitioners handed in 55 signatures for Larson, 37 were validated and 25 were needed. 55 were handed in for Dooley, with 44 valids and 32 needed.

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Ballotpedia reports drop in recall attempts for first half of 2025

Ballotpedia is reporting that the first half of 2025 has the lowest number of recall attempts since 2020, a year that in the end had a fairly standard number of recall attempts (though, due to COVID, a significant drop in those that made the ballot). One fact to note is that odd number years usually see a drop in recalls. I discuss that phenomena here in 2019:

This see-sawing does fit with a general pattern. Recalls are more likely in the even numbered national election years (presidential or Congress), rather than in the odd numbered years. This may seem somewhat counterintuitive (as some of these officials are facing the voters that year anyway), but there are practical reasons. I’ve mentioned these before, but here it is again:


  1. The lock-up or grace periods – many jurisdictions have a period where officials are exempt from facing a recall or (in some cases) even having petitions taken out against them. This period can range from three months to a year after their term begins (which is usually in January). Since so many officials are elected in even-year elections, there is less chance to get a recall on the ballot.
     
  2. Consolidation – states are frequently required to consolidate recalls with the next primary or general election, thereby obviating the need and expense of a special election. Michigan, one of the leading recall states, changed its law in 2012 to consolidate elections. The result is that a number of recalls are pushed off until 2020.
  3. Operator error -- I'm fairly certain that I missed recalls. I've compared it to other available sources (the good people at Ballotpedia have done an excellent job of compiling data), but there is no question that recalls are not being counted. However, I like to think that I've at least maintained my existing level of incompetency, and any errors this year would probably be roughly the same as last year.
  4. Paywalls -- Newspapers and websites are increasingly behind paywalls. Local sites that are critical to doing this research (there is no state or local governmental reporting) on recalls seem to be failing at an increased rate. I think the closing off of the web may make it harder to see recalls and reports of recalls. I can't say that it is the real factor though.
One factor that I had previously considered is that there was a drop-off in political interest and enthusiasm in off-years. While this is possibly, I do find it somewhat unlikely in our current political climate.

Missouri: Petitioners move closer to recall of Jackson County Executive/All-Star Royals 2nd Baseman

The signature totals for Jackson County Executive Frank White -- (yes, the Royals former All-Star 2nd Baseman), is creeping closer to success, as the board has verified 42,671 signatures, They need 42,902 valids to get on the ballot.

It sounds like over 80,000 signatures have been handed in, though no word on how many have been rejected.  

At one point, the pro-recall 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

Ohio: Cleveland Height Mayor recall makes the ballot

The recall of Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren has made the ballot, with petitioners getting 3845 valid signatures. They needed 2900. Approximately 500 were invalidated. The recall would be held on be September 9, the same day as the primary.

It was previously announced that Seren had failed to make the ballot for a reelection race,  he needed 342 signatures but was 39 short (a number of petitioners had signed other petitions as well). 

The recall is over claims that his wife has allegedly made numerous anti-Semitic comments against city employees and other officials and a civil rights complaint filed against him. Seren is also being faulted for a high turnover rate and failed budget process.

Oregon: Deschutes County Sheriff resigns in face of recall effort

Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp has resigned in the face of a recall effort. 

Petitioners, who seem to be deputies in the office, are unhappy with the delayed time-frame of the resignation (which would be July 31st). The recall was over claims of abuse of authority and misconduct.


Arkansas: Helena West-Helena Mayor facing petitions

Helena-West Helena Mayor Christopher Franklin Sr. is facing a recall effort over his arrest and charges of failing to file taxes in four of the past five years. 

The City Council has called for his resignation over a  "profanity-laden video call" between members that went viral. 

Not sure how many signatures are needed to get the recall on the ballot.

Monday, June 23, 2025

Kenya: Senators debating adopting recall law

Here (alas, behind a paywall).

Colorado: Loveland Councilmember recall makes the ballot

The recall effort against Loveland Councilmember Erin Black appears to have made the ballot, with petitioners handing in over 1322 valids. No word on scheduling yet. 

The recall was over a confrontation in the park (though it does not sound like it was physical -- though one of the video has claims about it. It's really not clear from the story). The Police Chief also claimed that he was discriminated against by Black.

The council is calling for her resignation.

Loveland has had a good deal of recall efforts recently.

Update: Black is contesting the petitions.

Friday, June 20, 2025

Texas: Recalls of three Kingsville Commissioners makes the ballot

The recall effort against three Kingsville City Commissioners, Norma Nelda Alvarez, Hector Hinojosa and Leo Alarcon, has made the ballot. 

The recall seems to be over a battle last year between the commissioners and the mayor over who would serve as mayor pro tem. 

No word on all the numbers, but in one case, petitioners handed in 292 valids and needed 282.

Taiwan: Recalls against 24 legislators and Hsinchu Mayor makes the July 26th ballot

The Taiwan recall fight is now a go, as recalls against 24 legislators from the Kuomintang Party, as well as Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao will face an election on July 26. The mass recall campaign was launched by the Democratic Progressive Party against 41 members of the Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party, and the DPP faced numerous recalls, leading to efforts against 79 legislators. Two efforts against DPP members are oustanding.

The recalls started after the KMT passed laws targeting the Constitutional Court, the budget and looking to change the recall act itself

The Kao recall is suspended following a corruption investigation.

Here's an editorial looking into what the numbers mean, including the fact that the KMT need to lose more than 6 seats to lose their majority.

Thursday, June 19, 2025

Wisconsin: DeForest Village Board member facing recall effort

DeForest Village Board Member Bill Landgraf over his opposition to fluoride in the water.

Petititoners need about 1400 signatures by July 17 and claim they have 500. 


Colorado: Jackson County Sheriff ousted

Jackson County Sheriff Jarrod Poley was kicked out in a recall vote on June 17.  The recall took place after the sheriff arrested a high school principal in front of the school for not divulging information about a student. 66% was against Poley, though hopefully we'll have fuller details later.

Poley faced a recall effort in 2023

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Texas: Houston Mayor recall effort set to start in fall

The lead petitioners for the recall effort against Houston Mayor John Whitmire (D) has said that they are planning on kicking off a campaign in the fall. 

The recall is over general complaints about incompetence, but seems to be focused on the specific policy issue seems to be a water plan.

Petitioners need about 63,000 signatures in 30 days (25% of turnout). The article notes that they are shooting for 64,000 signatures, but perhaps something is lost in translation there, as that would require an extremely unlikely success rate.

Florida: Fort Myers Beach councilmembers are approved for reimbusement

The Fort Myers Town Council has agreed (as provided for by Florida law) to reimburse Fort Myers Beach Councilmembers John King and Karen Woodson over a recall effort. The recall is over claims of unreported gifts for land use approvals from a developer (seemingly a meal), a debate over who would replace a town attorney and violation of the Sunshine laws. Fort Myers has a malfeasance standard, so a judge will probably weigh in here. 

Former councilmembers Ray Murphy and Bill Veach are leading the effort and have hit the first hurdle of 10% of signatures. Petitioners would need 25% of voters (which seems like between 700-800) within 60 days.  

Note that Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt is quotes as saying that the recall process "encourages slander, defamation and innuendo and those being recalled are guilty until proven innocents."

Taiwan: Five KMT associates charged with forging signatures

Five people connected with the Kuomintang (KMT) Party are facing charges over forging signatures for the recall of two Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers. 

The charged individuals are accused of fabricating 5211 signatures. 

Illinois: Further push on recall law for mayor

Here's more on the new push for allowing a recall law for mayor.

Ohio: Cleveland Height Mayor fails to make ballot for reelection, still facing recall efforts

New developments here in the Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren recall effort. Seren has failed to make the ballot for a reelection race,  he needed 342 but was 39 short (a number of petitioners had signed other petitions as well). However, Seren is still facing a recall effort over claims that his wife has allegedly made numerous anti-Semitic comments against city employees and other officials and a civil rights complaint filed against him. Seren is also being faulted for a high turnover rate and failed budget process. 

Petitioners need about 2900 signatures to get on the ballot (25% of turnout). If a recall is held, it would be September 9, the same day as the primary.

Alaska: Recall effort started against nine Kenai Peninsula School Board members

Petitioners are being taken out against nine Kenai Peninsula School Board Members, Zen Kelly, Jason Tauriainen, Virginia Morgan, Penny Vadla, Tim Daugharty, Patti Truesdell, Sarah Douthit, Kelley Cizek and Dianne MacRae. 

The recall is over complaints about a proposed health clinic at a high school. The first set of petitions were rejected because they focused on the school superintendent. The leader of the recall, Jeanne Reveal, ran and lost for a seat on the school board last year.