UPDATE! Recall Petitions With A Twist?

I stand corrected, and many thanks to Leon Drolet of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance for setting me straight. A federal court ruling in late 2008 found the residency requirement for circulators unconstitutional. Here's a link to Michigan Recall Procedures: A General Overview (.pdf file) from the Secretary of State's office which clarifies the rules. So. If we could afford to hire these women, I guess it would be legal. We can't, obviously, and it just seems to me like it shouldn't be allowed (paying outsiders), but there you have it. On the plus side, this ruling means that friends and family who don't live here CAN come in to help us. None of this changes my concerns about carefully following all the other procedures, rules and laws, though.

I received a very interesting phone call about 10:30 this morning. A woman who claimed to have obtained my home phone number from the "clerk's office" was inquiring about the recall campaign. Here's the twist:

She and her friend are very experienced petition circulators, she said, and they would be happy to help us gather the needed signatures on our petitions. They were most recently involved in a petition drive in Redford, and she could guarantee the quality and speed of their work. For a fee. I simply told her we are not in a financial position to pay, mostly because I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing.

Either this lady is ignorant of Michigan election law or she thinks I am. What she proposed is ILLEGAL. Neither she nor her friend live in Armada Township and are therefore most definitely NOT qualified to serve as circulators here. I quote from the list of instructions for circulators on the back of the recall petition form:

"Enter the name of the city or township where you are registered. You must be registered to vote in a city or township represented by the officeholder whose recall is sought."

No one who actually reads the rules could be confused. This may be just the beginning of attempts to trick or tempt us into breaking the law. DON'T BE FOOLED. If you are contacted by anyone (especially someone you don't know!) with brilliant ideas about how to run this recall, PLEASE check with us first! We have people who are well-versed in the law and recall procedures who can guide you to be sure everything is above-board and LEGAL.

No one should be circulating anything yet; our clarity hearing is still one week away. If we get approval from the Election Commission next Monday, then and only then do we begin gathering signatures!

No matter how badly we may want these folks removed from office, we cannot - WILL NOT - resort to behaving in any way which might discredit or negate the effort. If you have any questions, please use the contact information in the right sidebar to contact us. As always, check this site for any updates or new information.

Anatomy of a Recall, Part 1

I have lived in a wonderful, small, rural township at the base of Michigan's Thumb for the past 22 years. Many things are exactly as they were when I moved in. We still have the Flea Market twice a week in the summer and the biggest little agricultural Fair around every August. For Holly Days, local farmers string Christmas lights (and we still call them Christmas lights) on their combines and parade them down Main Street. In so many ways, this is a 'It's A Wonderful Life' kind of town. I love that.

Many other things have changed dramatically over the years. One of the more unfortunate changes occurred at the election last November, when our Township Board was turned upside down. The five members of our Board have been in office exactly six months and a recall campaign against three of them is already in progress.

How bad can it get in just six months? Well...pretty bad. There are a number of issues prompting the locals, including myself, to get angry and involved. In my next installment, I'll detail the impetus for the recall movement and the steps necessary to get it started. As it progresses, I will update the series so you will be able to see the process from start to finish.

Hearing Date Scheduled

We have received notice from the County Clerk that the hearing on our recall petitions has been set.

The Macomb County Election Commission will meet to determine whether the reasons stated in your recall petitions of Armada Township Treasurer Shannon Christoff, Armada Township Trustee Margaret Ruthenberg, and Armada Township Trustee Wayne Lobeck are of sufficient clarity. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 8, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. in the Jury Room on the 5th floor of the Macomb County Circuit Court Building, 40 North Main, Mount Clemens, Michigan.

The Circuit Court Building has an attached parking garage for your convenience, but there is a fee. Street parking is metered and there are several surface lots within walking distance.

Please put this on your schedule and plan to be there. You will not be allowed to present comments, but a show of support and strength is always welcome.

If you have any questions, please use the e-mail address in the sidebar to contact us.

Coming Soon: Recalling Armada Township Officials

Watch this space for information, documentation and updates on the effort to recall three Armada Township, Michigan elected officials: Treasurer Shannon Christoff, Trustee Wayne Lobeck and Trustee Marge Ruthenberg.