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Bruce Caswell recall, Michigan State Senate (2011-2012)
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| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2012 Recalls in Michigan Michigan recall laws State legislative recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Bruce Caswell, a member of the Republican Party, from his elected position representing District 16 in the Michigan State Senate was launched in summer 2011. It did not make it to the ballot in 2011 as intended. Organizers then aimed for the August 2012 ballot, which also did not succeed.
Path to the ballot
Recall language targeting Caswell for his support of House Bill 4361 (S-5) was approved 2-1 by the Hillsdale County Election Commission on October 4, 2011. In June and July, the commission rejected the language of two previous petitions.[1] Petitioners had 180 days to gather approximately 18,465 signatures in order to trigger a recall election. All of the signatures had to be gathered within a 90-day window of the 180 days.[1] The original push failed to make the ballot, leading organizer Roger Korte to say the goal was to get the recall question on the May 2012 ballot. That, however, was pushed back again, with a new aim for the August 7, 2012 ballot. New signature collecting efforts began on January 2,[2] but again failed to make the ballot.
Reasons for recall
Of the reasons for recall, Korte says, “This guy [Caswell] is terrible on our senior citizens and our future senior citizens. Their taxes are going to go up 100 percent." Caswell responded that it is a citizen's constitutional right to attempt to recall elected officials. Korte worked with a group that was also behind recall efforts for Nancy Jenkins and Mike Shirkey.[1]
See also
- Nancy Jenkins recall, Michigan House of Representatives (2011)
- Recall campaigns in Michigan
- Political recall efforts, 2011
- Laws governing recall in Michigan
Footnotes
