The recall effort against four mayors in the northern area of Kosovo (Mayors of Leposavic, Zubin Potok, Zvecan and North Mitrovica) on April 21 failed, as only 253 people showed up (out of 46,000 registered voters. They needed 50 percent turn out.
This seems to be a battle between the Prime Minister and the chief of the Srpska Lista party, Zlatan Elek over the vote. Western embassies weighed in and called on voters to vote in the recall and not boycott it.
Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber is facing recall threats, as an "Inn on the Alameda" owner, who appears to complain about loud cars, put an ad in linking to an old Change.com petition. The change.com petition was over the destruction of Soldiers' Monument in 2020.
Petitioners would need over 8000 signatures to get a recall on the ballot. Here's a column noting the challenges that recall petitioners would face in the city.
Recall language was approved against Councilmember Dennis Pfeiffer, making him the third Flint Councilmember to have active petitions outstanding. There are also attempts many other officials in Flint. The claim against Pfeiffer is "conduct unbecoming a councilmember."
Petitions have also been approved against Flint Council President Ladel Lewi and Quincy Murphy.
Petitioners would need 883 signatures for Pfeiffer, 751 for Lewi and 513 for Murphy.
The recall seems to be over a long running battle, with the focus on a community grant program, approval of Brownfield Plans and how revenue is allocated.
A recall against Flint Councilmember Eva Worthing got on the ballot, but she has announced that she is not running in the May 7th vote.
Worthing called out four other councilmembers, led by Eric Mays, against whom there were recall efforts. The four were Pfeiffer, Eric Mays, Jerri Winfrey-Carter and Tonya Burns.
The anti-Mays forces claim that Mays and another councilmember called a meeting that they others did not attend over the question of applying for a community grant program funding. Mays has also been charged with disorderly conduct for conduct at the council meetings that has apparently gone viral.
Recalls were also filed against councilmember Judy Priestley (with two filed against Priestly). Former Council President Allie Herkenroder already announced that she was resigning her seat last year.
Douglas County Republicans recalled six members from the executive board, Vice Chair Michaela Hammerson, delegates Todd Vaughn and Terry Noonkester and alternate delegates Cathye Curreri, Steve Hammerson and Loretta Johnson. It seems like the vote was 118-10. It seems like the removed members are accused of disrupting meetings and looking for primaries against sitting GOP elected officials.
Mexico Beach Mayor Michele Miller was ousted in a recall vote, 348-207. Miller has sued the City Council members for hiring the City Administrator and making the sole recordkeeper. The recall claims that she violated Sunshine laws.
Miller was replaced by Richard Wolff, who defeated Erik Fosshage 290-206.
A lawsuit against the recall claiming that the petition allegations are false was rejected.
Some more follow-up articles on the Alameda District Attorney Pamela Price recall.
The campaign is pushing for a special election to take place before the November general election, though the article doesn't note if it is due to the charter provision requiring one in 35-40 days or the state law passed by Measure B giving 88-125 days (but extending to 180 if it can be tied in with a general election).
Additionally, while still no word from the Clerk, the recall proponents have made it clear that they believe the odd "occupation" requirement is responsible for the high rejection rate, and if that were not included, there would be over 100,000 valid signatures.
On the other side of the ledger, the Price campaign is arguing that the Registrar didn't verify in 10 days and that the fact that the county rejected the (likely unconstitutional) all signature-gatherers must be county residents provision should result in the recall be invalidated.
Here's some other articles which include my comments:
A new push is on to put a referendum on the November 5 ballot to adopt a Mayoral Recall law in Chicago. Petitioners would need 56,464 signatures by August 5.
Councilmembers Raul Urena and Gilberto Manzanarez appear to have lost their April 16 recall election (it was a special), though new votes can be coming in. Right now, Urena is losing 2774-974 and Manzanarez is down, 2709-1022, both losing with more than 72% against.
The issue is a claim of poor leadership, though one of the big issues is that Urena was Calexico's first transgendered mayor and has pushed for progressive-focused policies.
Mayor Gloria Romo, who is an ally of Urena and Manzanerez) has been served with recall petitions as well moments after taking the job.
The Los Angeles Times has a deep look at the Calexico recall fight (with some of my comments included).
Petitioners have been taken out against St. Tammany Parish Coroner Christopher Tape, who refused to step down before his term begins.
Petitioners are now claiming that they will start a recall effort against him. The recall is over sex abuse allegations that were dismissed in 2003 over a claim of a violation of a right to a speedy trial. Tape was fired by the previous coroner over claims of violating the confidentiality policy.
Petitioners need more than 38,000 signatures to get on the ballot.
10 years ago, St. Tammany Parish Coroner Peter Galvan resigned during recall efforts over theft.
It looks like the recall is a go in Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, though let's expect a bumpy ride ahead. Alameda County Registrar of Voters announced that the petitioners got enough signatures to make the ballot. Petitioners handed in 123,374 signatures and got 74,757 valids. They needed 73,195.
First, a word on the success (or failure) rate. The 60.5% validation rate seems low and we have not seen a breakdown yet. But (from what I've heard) it appears that the reason for the failures may be due to the Alameda charter law that requires signers to state an occupation. So it may be under normal rules, the signature total would be much higher, which would limit a lawsuit here.
Unfortunately, the press release also doesn't explain why they tossed out signatures (which is pretty critical). Price's team was discussing a challenge over out of district signature gatherers (banned by the county law). The problem is that a Supreme Court decision, Buckley v. ACLF seems to wipe out that provision. Note that recalls are considered a ballot measure by California rules (though not by any case that I know of -- the question is an important for campaign finance issues).
Also unknown is if Price's team would try to use signature strike effort, whereby signers can withdraw their signature from the petitions (that law was adopted in 2017). This is not provided for under the old charter, but it would be interesting to see if they would try it. The existing charter also has a 10 day cure period (the language is unclear) if the signatures don't meet the requirements, so if there is a challenge, the petitioners would presumably be able to try and get more signatures.
There are other possible challenges that could be made. Alameda Charter required that the signatures be fully counted in 10 days. The county used a statistical sampling method, which the state law for localities (though not for state-level officials) allows for the sample method, Alameda does not seem to have any such provision. Alameda's Measure B, adopting this law (full discussion of what the law does here), but it seems like it was not operative for the counting. It's not clear to me why they were allowed to do the sampling method, but it's possible that no one will challenge, so that is that.
There are other areas for potential lawsuits, including when the recall will actually be scheduled and whether or not there is a replacement race or instead that the Supervisors appoint a successor. This depends on whether or not Measure B or the old charter is the operative law. But let's see what happens
Flint Councilmember Eva Worthing has announced that she is not running in the upcoming recall (May 7th) and will be replaced by one of the other candidates running. The recall, which is part of internal battle in the council, with numerous recalls filed, though only Worthing got to the ballot.
Worthing called out four other councilmembers, led by Eric Mays, against whom there were recall efforts. The four were Dennis Pfeiffer, Eric Mays, Jerri Winfrey-Carter and Tonya Burns (recall were filed against Pfeiffer and Mays).
The recall is over claims that Mays and another councilmember called a meeting that they others did not attend over the question of applying for a community grant program funding. Mays has also been charged with disorderly conduct for conduct at the council meetings that has apparently gone viral.
There is also claims about approving a Brownfield Plan.
Four recall efforts have been filed against Flint Council President Ladel Lewi. Two were filed against councilmember Judy Priestley (with two filed against Priestly). Former Council President Allie Herkenroder already announced that she was resigning her seat last year.
The first round of signatures have been handed in against Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago, with 1719 handed in and they need 1649 (5% of the registered voters). If they pass, they will need another 5000 to get through the second round of signatures.
The recall is over the firing of the City Manager and complaints by a commissioner of a "cesspool of public corruption." Lago opposed the ouster of the City Manager. An election last year of two opposition Commissioners has put Lago on the outs with the majority of the commission.
Lago has been the subject of Miami Herald investigative pieces of his ties to a developer who is the subject of federal investigations.
After multiple lawsuits, the recall election against Elton Mayor Kesia Skinner-Lemoine will be taking place on April 27. The issue is a claim of election irregularities and fraud.
This recall effort is following the failure of the first attempt at recalling, which collapsed in spectacular fashion, with only one of the 322 signatures handed in approved. In the second effort, petitioners handed in 252 signatures and got 249 valids. They needed 245 valids. A judge has once again rejected the attempt to toss out the election
