Ballotpedia's 2018 Recall Analysis

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Recall elections in 2018: Year-end report
Statistics
307 targeted officials 185 separate recall efforts
Notable recalls
Williamston Community Schools, Michigan Saugatuck Township, Michigan Richland 44 School District, North Dakota Wheeler County, Oregon Trempealeau County, Wisconsin

December 17, 2018 (updated September 17, 2024)
(updated December 13, 2021)
By Ballotpedia staff

Ballotpedia's coverage of 2018 recall efforts at the local and state levels showed a slight downturn in total efforts but a spike in how many recalls reached the ballot compared to 2016 and 2017.

• The 185 recall efforts against 307 officials in 2018 were less than the 227 efforts against 347 officials in 2017.
• However, this year's recall efforts were more successful than 2017. Recall efforts against 126 officials made the ballot in 2018 (41.18%) in comparison to 71 officials in 2017 (20.46%). In 2016, 107 officials faced recall elections, which was 28.61% of all officials included in recall efforts.
• City council officials and school board members were most often targeted for recall in 2018. A total of 98 city council officials and 74 school board members were targeted in 2018. In comparison, 155 city council officials and 45 school board members were targeted in 2017.
• For the first time in three years, a state other than California held the highest number of recall efforts. Michigan took over the top spot with 67 officials included in recall efforts. California (64 officials) and Arizona (27 officials) had the second- and third-most.

Notable recalls across the second half of 2018 included the following:

• Voters in the Williamston Community Schools school district decided whether to recall four officials after the school board voted to approve two new district policies related to gender identity and bathroom and locker room use.
• In Saugatuck Township, Michigan, four town officials were recalled after they voted to reprimand Township Manager Aaron Sheridan instead of removing him from his position. Sheridan had been accused of threatening behavior involving public officials, abusive language, and indecent conduct.
• In North Dakota, three of the seven members of the Richland 44 School District were targeted for recall due to fiscal concerns.
• Wheeler County Commissioner Robert Ordway (R) in Oregon was retained after he was targeted for recall over alleged professional mismanagement.
• In Wisconsin, Trempealeau County District Attorney Taavi McMahon (D) was recalled after he was accused of creating a hostile work environment for his employees, of being too lenient, and of being unprepared for cases.

What exactly happens in a recall election? Staff Writer Elisabeth Moore gives a 2-minute overview, including what it means and which officials can be recalled View other episodes here.

Statistics

In 2018, Ballotpedia covered a total of 185 recall efforts against 307 officials. Efforts against 11 of those officials remained ongoing at the end of the year. Recall attempts targeting 160 officials did not make it to the ballot and are marked as Unsuccessful on the chart below. Of the 126 officials whose recalls made it to the ballot, 80 were recalled and 46 survived the attempt. Ten other officials resigned after recall efforts started against them. A breakdown of the various recall outcomes is displayed in the chart below:

City council officials drew the focus of more recall petitions than any other group in 2018. A total of 98 city council members faced recall campaigns, while school board members faced the second-most with 74. Recalls were also sought for 39 mayors and 37 special district board members. In state government, a total of four legislators and one state executive faced recall efforts. A breakdown of the various recall targets is displayed in the chart below:

Targets by state

Michigan led the way in officials targeted for recall with 67 in 2018. California followed with 64 officials facing recall. To view the number of recalls in a particular state, hover your mouse cursor over that state in the chart below. Ballotpedia did not cover recalls in 2018 in the states depicted in gray.

When adjusted for state population using the U.S. Census Bureau's July 2017 population estimates, Idaho emerges as the recall leader with 0.93 officials included in recall efforts per 100,000 residents. It is followed by North Dakota (0.79 per 100,000 residents) and Michigan (0.67 per 100,000 residents).

Notable recalls

Williamston Community Schools recall, Michigan

See also: Williamston Community Schools recall, Michigan (2018)

A recall election seeking to remove four of the seven members on the Williamston Community Schools Board of Education in Michigan was held on November 6, 2018. Three of the members—Christopher Lewis, Sarah Belanger, and Nancy Deal—retained their seats, defeating challengers Craig Hagelberger, Debbie Hutchison, and Walter Holm, respectively. The recall of board President Greg Talberg was approved. He was defeated by Karen Potter.

The recall effort began in June 2018. Recall supporters targeted the four board members after they voted to approve two new district policies related to gender identity and bathroom and locker room use in November 2017. The gender identity policy said, "WCS shall accept the gender identity that each student asserts reflecting the student's legitimately held belief once the student and/or his or her parent/guardian, as appropriate, notifies District administration that the student intends to assert a gender identity that differs from previous representations or records." The bathroom and locker room use policy said, "Any student who is uncomfortable using a gender-segregated facility, regardless of reason, shall notify WCS staff of his or her discomfort. WCS staff will work with the student to find an alternative that takes into account the privacy rights of all students, staff, and visitors."

Talberg said the purpose of the policies was to ensure all students were welcomed and supported and to provide guidance to staff to help support the needs of transgender students. Community members opposed to the policies began the recall process. They said the district's policies prior to the new additions already addressed discrimination and equal support for all students. They also said the new policies excluded customized support for students who did not identify as transgender and did not guarantee that parents were informed of their students' behavior while attending school.

Town board recall, Saugatuck Township, Michigan

See also: Town board recall, Saugatuck Township, Michigan (2018)

A recall election seeking to remove four township officials in Saugatuck, Michigan, was approved by voters on November 6, 2018. Town Clerk Brad Rudich, Town Treasurer Lori Babinski, Town Trustee Douglas Lane, and Town Trustee Roy McIlwaine were defeated by their opponents. Recall organizers Cindy Osman and Kathy Sturm submitted petition language against Rudich, Babinski, and Lane to the Allegan County Election Commission on December 5, 2017, after two previous petitions were rejected by the election commission. A recall petition against McIlwaine was approved for circulation by the county on December 4, 2017. Petitioners turned in enough signatures for each official on February 27, 2018.

The December 5 petition argued that Babinski, Lane, and Rudich should have removed Township Manager Aaron Sheridan rather than voting to reprimand him during a meeting on August 16, 2017. The separate petition against McIlwaine shared the same language.

Township Supervisor Jon Phillips accused Sheridan of threatening behavior involving public officials, abusive language, and indecent conduct. Sheridan’s employee evaluation was the topic of a closed session during the August 16 meeting. Phillips presented his accounts of misconduct by Sheridan during the closed session. When the board returned to open session, Phillips motioned to have Sheridan dismissed as manager, but no other board members seconded the motion. The board then unanimously approved a motion to reprimand Sheridan and include that reprimand in his permanent personnel file. Sheridan was also ordered by the board to attend anger management classes.

Richland 44 School District recall, North Dakota

See also: Richland 44 School District recall, North Dakota (2018)

A recall election seeking to remove three of the seven members of the Richland 44 School District school board in North Dakota was approved by voters on August 2, 2018. Former board president and Area 3 representative Lisa Amundson, Area 1 representative Josh Mjoness, and Area 6 representative Sarah Myers were removed from their positions. The recall effort was started due to fiscal concerns, according to recall organizers.

In March 2018, the school board placed Richland 44 Superintendent Tim Godfrey on paid administrative leave. The board's decision came after five male student-athletes in the district were charged with misdemeanor hazing, misdemeanor sexual assault, felonious restraint, and felony terrorizing in February 2018. In April 2018, the board voted 6-0 to accept Godfrey's resignation. He left after his contract expired on June 30, 2018. High school principal Bruce Anderson also announced in April 2018 that he would retire at the end of the school year. Athletic director John Freeman also left his position after the students were charged.

Robert Ordway recall, Wheeler County Commission, Oregon

See also: Robert Ordway recall, Wheeler County Commission, Oregon (2018)

A recall effort to remove Robert Ordway (R) from his position on the Wheeler County Commission in Oregon was defeated by voters on August 28, 2018. The recall was organized by Ava Terri Hunt, who accused Ordway of professional mismanagement. The recall petition said that Ordway had sold a rock crusher for less than it was worth, purchased a garbage truck that had no title, did not participate in some committees, and abstained from votes, including one for a fiber optic project grant. Hunt submitted 151 signatures to put the recall on the ballot.

Ordway denied the allegations and said that the commissioners had decided together on the sale of the rock crusher and that the garbage truck's title was held by the sheriff's office. He also said that he had missed meetings due to his responsibilities as the head of the road department. In response to the fiber optic vote complaint, Ordway said that his concerns over the project had not been adequately addressed. Ultimately, Ordway was retained with 55.3 percent of the vote.

Taavi McMahon recall, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin

See also: Taavi McMahon recall, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin (2018)

A recall election seeking to remove District Attorney Taavi McMahon (D) was approved by voters on October 2, 2018. The recall petition said that McMahon "demonstrated inability to effectively prosecute cases" and that he failed to "comply with the rules of the court." McMahon said he would fight the recall, and accused the recall committee of misleading the public by using misinformation. McMahon began a leave of absence on May 9, 2018, citing health issues.

McMahon was defeated by John Sacia (D) in the October 2 recall primary. Sacia then went on to defeat a challenger, Rick Niemeier, in the November 6 general election.

See also

• Recall overview
• Political recall efforts
• Political recall efforts, 2018
• Laws governing recall
• Ballotpedia's Mid-Year 2018 Recall Analysis
• Ballotpedia's 2017 Recall Analysis

Footnotes

Political recall elections

Recalls
by year

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Recalls
by office

Governors • State legislators • County officials • County commission • Sheriffs • Mayors • City officials • City council • School board • Special district

Recalls
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Recall
laws

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • District of Columbia • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Kansas • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Rhode Island • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming • States that require grounds for recalls • States that have pre-petition signature requirements for recalls