Tuesday, February 27, 2018

California: Recall attempt against Assembly Speaker fails

The recall attempt against Speaker Anthony Rendon over his decision to shelve a single-payer healthcare Senate bill has failed. Petitioners needed over 23000 signatures to get on the ballot.

Ohio: Portsmouth Mayor facing recall efforts

Mayor Jim Kalb is facing a recall effort over a conflict with the City Manager and the council. There are also discussion of recalls against Councilwoman JoAnn Aeh and Councilman Gene Meadows.

Update: Kalb quit at the next meeting.

Arizona: Mohave County Supervisor facing petitions

Supervisor Jean Bishop is facing recall petitions from Jean Jones-Esposito, a candidate for the Arizona House of Representatives. The complaint is Bishop's "socialist voting record."

Petitioner needs 2897 signatures.

California: How Santa Clara Judge can survive recall vote

Here

Monday, February 26, 2018

California: WSJ Op-ed on the Santa Clara Judge recall

Here

California: Pico Rivera Councilman facing recall effort

Councilman Gregory Salcido, a high school teacher who swore at a student wearing a Marine Corps sweatshirt, is facing a recall effort. A fellow teacher is leading the effort, noting that Salcido was put on leave after being accused of hitting a student and telling a student to shut up before he kills him.

Petitioners need 6386 signatures to get on the ballot. All four of Salcido's fellow council members support the recall.

Saturday, February 24, 2018

American Airlines Flights Attendants' Union President resigns in face of recall effort

Bob Ross is stepping down as union head after a recall effort.

California: Solano County Superior Court Judge facing petitions

Judge Cynda Riggins-Unger, who faced petitions in 2014 over claims that she is rude to female litigants, is once against facing a recall effort. Unger is on the ballot unopposed in November, so it's not clear when the recall petition dates would start.

Friday, February 23, 2018

Missouri: St. Louis Councilman facing two ouster efforts

Councilman Ernie Trakas (R) is now facing two efforts to remove him from the council, which he is blaming on the County Executive. The recall effort needs about 15,000 signatures, though petitioners aren't handed it in just yet.

Trakas barely won his seat, which seems to be a key swing in the counsel. He also opposed a zoning change for a construction business in his district, though later backed down.

Another removal effort is a claim that he violates the county charter by working as an attorney for public school districts.

Tennessee: Nashville Mayor facing recall push following affair with head of security

Mayor Megan Barry is coming under a firestorm of criticism following revelations of her affair with the head of security. In addition to calls for her resignation, there is now a push for a recall effort. Petitioners need about 60,000 signatures to get on the ballot.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Michigan: Jackson County Sheriff facing threats of removal

Sheriff Steven Rand is facing a push for his resignation or removal by the Governor following a civil lawsuit calling him a "multifaceted bigot." The County Board of Commissioners voted 8-0 asking for his resignation. There is talk of a recall if nothing else works.

Michigan: Dexter School Board member facing recall effort

School Board member Barbara Read is facing a recall threat from the husband of a cross country coach over claims that she threatened the coach's job. Read filed a Title IX complaint over the disparity in schedule for the girls and boys cross-country team. 

Petitioners need 2368 signatures to get on the ballot.

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

California: Madera Mayor recall efforts moving forward

An attempt to recall Mayor Andy Medellin is moving forward over claims the doubling of water rates and the salaries for city department heads. Petitioners would need about 3500 signatures to get on the ballot.

Michigan: School Board member elected in 2016 recall resigns after denying Sandy Hook massacre

Board of Education member Val Bury, who won office in the 2016 recall of School Board President Diana Parrigin for a marijuana possession arrest, has resigned following twitter posts she made claiming that no one was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Nevada: A look at the Lieutenant Governor's role in the Senate recall effort

Here's a look in the Nevada Independent on one of the most unusual parts of the recall Lt. Governor's Mark Hutchinson (R) serving as legal counsel for the recall groups.

California: Recall against Assembly Speaker fails

The recall attempt against Speaker Anthony Rendon (D) over his shelving a single-payer health care plan has been abandoned.

California: Corona City Council recall fails

Petitioners claim they collected between 4200-4300 signatures for the recall of Mayor Karen Spiegel, Vice Mayor Eugene Montanez and Councilman  Dick Haley. They needed 10500 for each.

Monday, February 19, 2018

Wisconsin: Coulee Region Joint Municipal Court judge pushed for resignation

Judge John Brinckman is facing calls for his resignation or a recall over claims of organizational mismanagement. There is claims of "mountains of unprocessed citations" and 30 boxes of unprocessed tickets."

Maine: York School Board Recall set for April 7

The recall against School Board member Dick Bachelder has been set for April 7. Bachelder is running for reelection in May. regardless.

Petitioners handed in 1072 signatures, and got 971. The issue was the firing of a coach, which he didn't appear to have a part in, though he was overheard as making a comment years ago that the coach shouldn't coach two sports.

California: Second candidate enters Santa Clara Judge recall replacement race

Angela Storey, who opposes the recall of Judge Aaron Persky, has put herself up as a replacement candidate should the recall succeed.

Oregon: Oregon State University Grad School representative ousted for white nationalist views/felony hate crimes charge

Representative Andrew Oswalt, who is going for a PhD in Chemistry, was tossed out by almost 90% of the vote (2/3rds were needed). He also ran for reelection and lost, though he got 329 votes.

Colorado River Indian Tribes to hold April 28 election

Chairman Dennis Patch, Vice Chairman Keith Moses and Councilmembers Amelia Flores, Valerie Welsh-Tahbo, Johnny Hill Jr., Granthum Stevens, Johnson Fisher, Herman Laffoon and Bobby Page are up for a vote on April 28.

The issue is the leasing of water allotment, which petitioners claim was done in secret.

Philippines: Senator proposes change to recall law allowing voluntary resignation of official

Apparently, the Philippines prevents a recall while the recall process is in progress. This bill by Senator Leila de Lima, who is the detained on drug-related charges and the Senate Electoral Reforms and People's Participation Committee Chairwoman, would change it.

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Montana: Tracy City Councilman survives recall effort

Councilman Tony Peterson survived a recall vote, 211-174. The issue was Peterson's alleged bullying of city employees.

North Carolina: Pinehurst Village Council shoots down recall plan

The council voted down an idea for a recall law

Texas: Plano City Councilman facing recall effort over Facebook post on Islam

Councilman Tom Harrison is facing a recall after posting a video of girls in hijabs with the statement that "Share if you think Trump should ban Islam in American schools." Petitioners would need about 2791 signatures (30% of votes cast in the last municipal election).

California: Recall petitions drafted for Stockton Mayor

Petitioners have been taken out against Mayor Michael Tubbs (D) over claims that the acts in a fiscally irresponsible manner and homelessness has increased. Petitioners need 15918 signatures -- Tubbs beat the Republican incumbent in 2016, gaining 70% of the vote.

Idaho: Pocatello/Chubbuck School board facing recall effort

A fight over school choice of high school has led to an effort to recall the entire school board.

Texas: Signatures validated in Windcrest Councilmen recall

The recall effort against Councilmen Gerd Jacobi, James McFall and Jim Shelton took a step closer to finally getting on the ballot. Petitioners handed in enough signatures (they needed 415), but the city secretary rejected the petitions because some of the signers had not voted in the previous election. Windcrest simply requires that they get signatures from registered voters, so this decision was reversed. The petitioners are hoping to schedule the recall for the May primary ballot, though there is concern (as has happened in Texas numerous times before) that the recall will be delayed by the council.

The issue is the creation of the Windcrest Volunteer Fire Department Bugle Crew, which would replace the Windcrest Volunteer Fire Association.

Washington: Early returns suggest Black Diamond City Council member kicked out

Results are still not official, but the recall of Council member Pat Pepper seems to have succeeded. The current vote is 667-310.

Pepper was accused of Open Meeting Act violations, refusing to attend council meetings, and failing to enact a vote to change the Master Development Review Team contracts.

Louisiana: Charges thrown out against recall petitioner in Lafayette City Marshall

The lead petitioner in the recall effort against Marshall Brian Pope had charges dismissed. The petitioner was arrested by the City Marshall's office right after the recall failed on 20-year old charges of bouncing $200 in checks.

Pope is still facing a felony trial this year.

Michigan: Branch County Prosecutor recall effort greenlit

The recall effort against Prosecutor Ralph Kimble over sexual harassment claims and a police investigation has been approved by the State Board of Canvassers.

Petitioners need 2858 signatures.

Nebraska: Replacement race following Sutherland recall

A special election filled the seats of the two members ousted in a November recall, Trustees John Lutz and Ray Ravenscroft. Tory Copeland and Larry Meyer won the five person race.

Nigeria: Threats of a recall against Senator who criticized president

The recall effort is against Senator Shehu Sani over claims that he insulted the president.

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Nevada: Coverage of Court case against State Senate recalls

Lots of coverage of the Nevada State Senate recall campaigns, including one piece by Nicholas Riccardi at the AP that cites me discussing the political nature of recalls.

California: Santa Clara Board of Supervisors schedules recall for June

The recall of Judge Aaron Persky has been put on the June 5 ballot.

Maine: Petitioners hand in 1072 signatures for York School Board member recall

Petitioners handed in 1072 signatures. They need 697 signatures to get the recall of School Board Member Dick Bachelder on the ballot. Petitioners need to hand in by tomorrow. The recall is over his role in the firing of a coach. Bachelder's term is up in May regardless.

California: Oxnard Recall could cost $500,000

It's a special election scheduled for May 1.

Wisconsin: St. Francis Mayor Recall scheduled for March 13

Mayor CoryAnn St. Marie-Carls will face a special election on March 13, as petitioners handed in 1229 valid signatures. They handed in 1275 and needs 1047. St. Marie-Carls has said she will appeal the ruling. The issue was claims of unprofessional conduct.

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Colorado: Editorial against La Plata County Commissioner

An editorial is out there  criticizing the recall effort against County Commissioner Gwen Lachelt over her environmental advocacy. The article does claim that recalls should only be used for "extreme cases of gross misconduct or major ethics violations..."

Michigan: Judges forces recall of Wayne Councilman on to May ballot

After more than a month of waiting, a Circuit Court Judge forced a recall of Councilman Chris Sanders onto the May primary ballot over his vote to move elections to even numbered years. Petitioners handed in about 1400 signatures, they got 1281 verified, and they needed 1183. But the Clerk allegedly wouldn't issue a call for the recall election to be held. Petitions against three other officials failed to get enough signatures.

Sunday, February 4, 2018

Nevada: District Court Judge to hear state Senate recall suits

A District Court Judge is hearing the suit over requests from petitioners to remove their signatures on petitions against Senators Joyce Woodhouse and Nicole Cannizzaro. Democrat have submitted more than 2000 signatures calling for removal for each recall effort.

New Jersey: A look at the Mahwah mayoral recall effort

Here

Michigan:Signatures turned in against three Juniata Township officials

Petitioners handed in over 200 signatures in the recall against Supervisor Neil Jackson, Clerk Heidi Stark and Trustee Andrew Stark over a failure to enact a moratorium on commercial wind energy systems -- a company wants permits for 31 turbines in the township. They need 147 signatures to get on the ballot.

A petition against trustee Elaine Schunn was rejected. A fifth official, Trustee Brenda Wachner, wasn't targeted.

The election would be on May 8, the primary election day.

Oregon: Ashland Commissioners recall gets to the ballot

Enough signatures have been handed in against Commissioners Rick Landt, Mike Gardiner to get the recalls on the ballot. The petitions claim mismanagement of a $9 million budget and spending $230,000 on a consultant for a park.

The recall has to be held by March 14 and is estimated to cost between $25,000-$30,000. Petitioners got 1812 signatures for Gardiner, 1809 for Lewis and 1796 for Landt. They needed 1566 for each.

California: New Port Beach Councilman failed recall effort cost more than $130,000

The failed effort to recall Councilman Scott Peotter costs $130,000 and raised close to $100,000. Peotter. The top donations were from a former Assemblywoman and the campaign committee for a former councilwoman. Three former Newport Beach mayors also donated, as did the planning commissioner who lost to Peotter in his 2014 race.

$66,734 dollars were given to PCI Consultants, the petition management firm (they owed another $41,863).

Peotter raised $45000 in opposition to the recall.

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Michigan: Branch County Prosecutor petition rejected by board

The petition against County Prosecutor Ralph Kimble was rejected by the Board of Canvassers over factual questions of the language.

California: Signatures validated in Alvord School Board Member recall

School Board Member Joseph Barragan will be facing an upcoming recall (seems likely to be on the June 5 primary day) over claims that he insulted undocumented immigrants and other groups on a Facebook posts, though Barragan claims that it was from a phony account or created via Photoshop type program. Petitioners handed in 2125 signatures, they got 1912. They needed 1712.

Louisiana: Lafayette City Marshall, subject of failed recall effort, facing felony trial in February

City Marshall Brian Pope, who had the leader of the recall effort arrested for bouncing checks worth less than $200 over 20 years ago, is now finally going to trial. The article's title is "The Most Shameless Man in Louisiana Politics" and it's quite a read.

Alaska: State Legislature asked to clarify recall law by Municipal League

Here

Texas: Signatures handed in against three Windcrest Councilmen

More than 460 signatures were handed in against councilmen Gerd Jacobi, James McFall and Jim Shelton. Petitioners need 415 each.

At the same time, there's a petition to repeal the creation of the Windcrest Volunteer Fire Department Bugle Crew. The creation of the Bugle Crew, which would replace the Windcrest Volunteer Fire Association, was the impetus for the recall effort.