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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.  

Minnesota: Petitions taken out against South St. Paul Council member

Petitions have been taken out against South St. Paul Councilmember Pam Bakken over allegations that a child ingested methamphetamines at Bakken's day care.  

Petitioners need 2763 valids in 30 days. Since Minnesota is a malfeasance standard state, a judge will presumably weigh in here. 

Wisconsin: Wrightstown School Board President recall set for April 22

The recall against Wrightstown School Board President Angela Hansen-Winker is coming up on April 22, with 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.

Missouri: Petitions taken out against Joplin Councilmember

Petitions have been taken out against Joplin Councilmember Ryan Jackson for alleged comments on social media calling gender dysphoria a mental illness.

California: Bill looks to limit publicizing signatures and addresses on Notice of Intention to Recall

A new bill would allow the removal of the signatures and addresses from the first Notice of Intention to Recall that is filed in California. The bill is proposed by Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R). The bill (SB270) would only require a name, city, state and zip code to be published in a newspaper (though all the regular information would have to be submitted to the clerk. 

The names of anyone signing the actual petition are not publicized under California law (though they are under other state laws).