Stories indexed with the term ‘Recall language’

Elections Board Rejects AAPS Recall Language

The Washtenaw County board of election commissioners has voted to reject the proposed ballot language to recall six of the seven trustees on the Ann Arbor Public Schools board of education. The action took place at an Aug. 1, 2013 hearing in the county boardroom in downtown Ann Arbor.

The election commissioners are Donald E. Shelton, chief judge of the Washtenaw County Trial Court; Larry Kestenbaum, county clerk/register of deeds; and Catherine McClary, county treasurer. They cited a lack of sufficient clarity in the language as the reason for their decision.

On July 17, 2013 Jody Huhn – a parent with children in the AAPS system – submitted language to recall six trustees: Simone Lightfoot, Susan Baskett, Irene Patalan, Glenn … [Full Story]

Kestenbaum on Recall Law: Unconstitutional

Washtenaw County clerk Larry Kestenbaum has announced that he does not think a new state law on recall elections is constitutional. The law, which was approved last year as Act 417 of 2012, changes the standards that a board of election commissioners must apply to recall ballot language – by adding a requirement that the reasons be factual.

Kestenbaum, who is one member of the three-member board of election commissioners for Washtenaw County, made the announcement in an email sent early on Aug. 1, 2013 to the other two members of the board: Donald E. Shelton, chief judge of the Washtenaw County Trial Court; and Catherine McClary, county treasurer. [.pdf of Kestenbaum's Aug. 1, 2013 email]

Kestenbaum’s email comes in … [Full Story]

Recall Effort Begins for 6 AAPS Trustees

Jody Huhn has submitted language to recall six of the seven trustees on the Ann Arbor Public Schools board of education: Simone Lightfoot, Susan Baskett, Irene Patalan, Glenn Nelson, Andy Thomas, and Christine Stead. Not named in the recall effort is board president Deb Mexicotte.

In documents submitted to the Washtenaw County director of elections, Huhn cites  four reasons for this recall [.pdf of recall petition language]:
(1) failure to demonstrate thoughtful consideration of constituent priorities; (2) failure to demonstrate transparency in decision-making; (3) failure to demonstrate cohesive and singular direction as evidenced by consistent split voting; (4) failure to provide sufficient backing and support for district superintendent position as evidenced by high turnover rate averaging 2.25 years per term.
Updated … [Full Story]

Warren, Horiszny Recall Language Rejected

Ballot language for two separate recall attempts – against state Sen. Rebekah Warren and Washtenaw Community College trustee Pamela Horiszny – was not approved by the Washtenaw County board of election commissioners at a clarity hearing held on Monday afternoon, Aug. 15, 2011.

The board’s decision was unanimous regarding the Horiszny recall language. But the decision to reject the language for Warren’s recall was made on a 2-1 vote. Without approval by the board, the recalls can’t move forward unless the decisions are appealed.

Initial steps of a recall require that ballot language be deemed clear by the board of election commissioners in the jurisdiction of the elected official who is the target of the recall. The Washtenaw County board of election … [Full Story]

Warren, Horiszny Face Recall Efforts

On Monday, Aug. 1, Ypsilanti resident David H. Raaflaub submitted ballot language for a recall petition against state Sen. Rebekah Warren, an Ann Arbor Democrat who represents District 18. The language submitted for the recall reads: “Michigan House Bill 4362 eliminates the job-killing Michigan Business Tax; however, on May 12, 2011, State Sen. Rebekah Warren voted ‘No’ on final passage of Michigan House Bill 4362.”

Raaflaub most recently was a Republican candidate in 2010 for Washtenaw County commissioner in District 6. Warren is married to Conan Smith, a Democrat who represents District 10 on the county board of commissioners and who is chair of the board.

Initial steps of a recall require that ballot language be deemed clear by the board of election commissioners in … [Full Story]