Thursday, March 28, 2024

Wisconsin: Second recall attempt against Assembly Speaker

After seeming to fail on their first attempt, petitioners are now launching another recall effort against Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.

The previous attempt is still in the courts over claims of fraudulently signed names. The Wisconsin Election Commission announced that the first recall will not make the ballot, as petitioners seem to have fallen 945 signatures short. They handed in 11,000 and needed about 7K, so that is a really bad result -- unless due a new question about the districting (which the Supreme Court is now going to rule on). Vos is claiming that there were 300-400 duplicates and half the signatures came from outside the eligible area.

The Daily Kos has a good explanation for the challenge of deciding what district Vos is a part of (this is after the old districts were tossed out by the State Supreme Court). 

Vos, a long-time fixture of this blog, is facing the recall over his refusal to support Trump during the attempt to overthrow the 2020 election results and the decision to drop impeachment efforts against Wisconsin's Election Commission Chair Meagan Wolfe as she has refused to push for the discredited claims of election fraud.

Vos almost lost in 2022 after refusing to back the election fraud claims. Former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who has previously targeted Vos, had called for his recall if he didn't support the impeachment of Wolfe. 

New Jersey: Toms River pulls back law that was facing recall effort

A law to restructure Toms Rivers Police Department and hire EMTs was voted down by the council (though the mayor is pushing ahead with the plan). Over 5000 signatures were handed in to push for a recall of the law, they needed 3000.



UK: Scottish Parliament considers recall

The Scottish Parliament is now considering adopting a recall bill, following the revelation that former Health Secretary Michael Matheson racked up an 11K pound bill for roaming charges on his iPad during a vacation. Matheson refuses to resign.

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

UK: Another MP resigns in the face of recall effort

One more MP is gone thanks to the recall. MP Scott Benton (Conservative) resigned after being suspended for telling an undercover reporter he'd break lobbying rules for money. Benton has a 35 day suspension ahead and has already been suspended from the Conservative Party. The seat is a close one, so not a good sign for the Conservatives (Labour has done well in recent recalls). Petitioners needed over 10,000 signatures to get on the ballot.

As with other recalls in UK, a suspension of 10 days from Parliament leads to the ability to start a recall petition. If enough signatures are gathered, the official is automatically removed and a by-election is scheduled. 

California: Petitions approved against California Governor

Petitions have been approved in another recall attempt against California Governor Gavin Newsom. This time focused on the budget deficit and Newsom's role as a campaign surrogate for President Joe Biden. This is the seventh attempt filed against Newsom (including the recall he defeated). 

Petitioners would need 1,311,963 signatures by September 3 to get to the ballot. This is significantly less than the 1,495,709 needed last time (the reason for the drop off is a drop off in voting for governor between the 2018 and 2022 races. The number needed is 12% of turnout).

Newsom is nowhere near the record holder for recall attempts agianst. Unsurprisingly, Jerry Brown is the California State Record holder, with 12 (including AG recall attempts). The Duke (Deukmejian) had 11, Wilson had 8, Schwarzenegger had 7. The immortal Cuthbert Olsen had 5, Pat Brown 3 and Gray Davis only had 3. Supreme Court Chief Justice Rose Bird had 9 -- but was kicked out in retention election, not a recall.

Monday, March 25, 2024

Virgin Islands: Supreme Court tosses lawsuit by former Senator over whether official can be expelled absent a recall

The Virgin Islands Supreme Court has tossed out a lawsuit by former Senator Steven Payne Sr. who was expelled for sexual harassment. Payne argued that he could only be removed by a recall vote. 

California: UC Santa Barbara Student Body President facing recall effort led by anti-Semitic groups

UC Santa Barbara Student Body President Tessa Veksler, who has faced a wave of anti-Semitic comments by supporters of the October 7th massacre of Jews, is facing a recall effort. Petitioners need signatures from 10% of voters 327 signatures).

Louisiana: Petitions set to be taken out against St. Tammany Parish Coroner

With St. Tammany Parish Coroner Christopher Tape refusing to step down before his term begins, petitioners are now claiming that they will start a recall effort against him. Tape is facing the recall threat 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 would need more than 37,000 signatures to get on the ballot.

10 years ago, St. Tammany Parish Coroner Peter Galvan resigned during recall efforts over theft.

Michigan: New petitions taken out against Marquette Area Public School Board members

New petitions have been taken out against Marquette Area Public School Board Member Jennifer Klipp and Jennifer Ray over their vote to remove the high school team nicknames Redmen and Redette, due to their offensive nature. The petition is officially about complaint about expenses, though it seems to be about the name change. Petitioners need 3697 signatures to get on the ballot.

An earlier petition failed to get out of the clarity/factualness hearing. 

Friday, March 22, 2024

Wisconsin: Assembly Speaker Vos continues to assail recall effort, Supreme Court to weigh in

There are now claims that the recall effort against Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has fraudulently signed names, as Vos is once again pushing to change the recall law to a malfeasance standard/judicial recall one. 

The Wisconsin Election Commission announced that the recall against  will not make the ballot, as petitioners seem to have fallen 945 signatures short. They handed in 11,000 and needed about 7K, so that is a really bad result -- unless due a new question about the districting (which the Supreme Court is now going to rule on). Vos is claiming that there were 300-400 duplicates and half the signatures came from outside the eligible area.

The Daily Kos has a good explanation for the challenge of deciding what district Vos is a part of (this is after the old districts were tossed out by the State Supreme Court). 

Nebraska: October recall leads to surprising results, as ousted officials appointed to other city jobs

The October 10 recall of Brownville Trustees Natisha Helmick-Winkelman and Terry Vice and the resignation of Trustee Bailey Bindle has led to some interesting results. The two ousted members were appointed to newly created jobs (parks superintendent and utility superintendent and deputy clerk), which is seen as an insult to the residents (the town 140 people).

The issue for the recall was the departure of the water operator and the replacement with Winkelman as well as members being paid $25/hour for village tasks.

Colorado: Two Cherokee Metro District Board set for recall vote on June 4

Recalls against two Cherokee Metropolitan District Board members, Steve Hasbrouck and Linda Keleher, have gotten to the June 4 ballot as a standalone special election. The issue is water quality (the hardness of water wearing out household appliances). 

Petitioners handed in 437 signatures, and (apparently) 428 were verified. Petitioners needed 300.

Ohio: Petitions taken out against University Heights Mayor

Petitions have been taken out against University Heights Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan. Petitioners claim it is over inappropriate behavior and defamation as well as a host of other complaints. Brennan argues that it is over the celebration of Juneteenth, which he claims are pushing to turn it into "Diversity Day" while Brennan notes that Juneteenth is a federal holiday, though petitioners deny this.

Petitioners need 1177 signatures in 100 days. 

Thursday, March 21, 2024

California: LA Times editorial complains about "undemocratic" recall law

The LA Times is banging the drum on the "undemocratic" nature of the recall -- that the Governor and other state officials can be replaced by someone who wins with a smaller vote total than the official they are replacing and calling for the adoption of a Constitutional Amendment to change the law. The amendment would use either the automatic replacement/by-law replacement (the Lieutenant Governor steps in when there is the removal of the Gov) or what apparently is now seen as the vastly more democratic model of having the governor appoint a replacement. If the governor is removed in the first two years, there's a special election after some time; if it is the last two years, then the LG serves out the term. The special would be an additional cost that takes place after the recall -- which may actually result in even lower turnout. 

As I've written before, this is just begging for disaster. First, it can lead to targeted recalls to remove an official and have an automatic replacement take over without the challenging of running for the seat. In California, where the LG is separately elected (and, prior to the 2000s, frequently from the other party), there may be a desire to test this. The other very likely option would be a multi-official recall, so no appointment will work (and it can just float down to the legislature or lower). If you believe this is unlikely, note that in Wisconsin, the Lieutenant Governor faced just such a recall simply under the concern that the law would be used in such a way that the LG would move up to the Governor's seat in case of a recall. 

One model that is not discussed that would I would recommend to solve the problem is the Queen of the Hill rules that Idaho uses. Under that scenario, the recall does not succeed unless the vote total tops the vote received by the official in the original election. 

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

California: Woodland School Board Member ousted in Primary Day recall

We still don't have final numbers, but it seems clear that Woodland School Board Member Emily McDonald was ousted in the March 5 recall -- so far it is 892-510. The recall is over statements she made opposing the school's on transgender policy.

Petitioners handed in 1349 signatures (not sure how many were verified) and got 1078. 

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

California: Alameda DA backers claim signature fraud in recall effort

Following the report that the signature counting is still ongoing, there are now accusations of signature fraud by backers of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. The claims of fraud seem to be focused on non-county petition gatherers (which may be why the recall did not make the ballot and is likely an unconstitutional measure), petitions being left unattended and luring signers to sign an unrelated petition.