Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Christopher Franklin recall, Helena-West Helena, Arkansas (2024)
| Christopher Franklin recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2024 Recalls in Arkansas Arkansas recall laws Mayoral recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Mayor Christopher Franklin did not go to a vote in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas.
Recall supporters
The recall effort was initiated after Franklin announced he would not resign following a city council vote asking for him to step down. On May 29, 2024, the city council voted 6-0 on a resolution to censure Franklin for "conduct unbecoming of the office of mayor during a recent Facebook Live broadcast." The resolution stated that Franklin "recorded, published, and disseminated a derogatory Facebook Live video [that] made other foul-mouthed statements using a litany of profanity and antagonistic language."[1]
Recall opponents
In response to the city council vote to censure him, Franklin said, "This is about a family issue that got spewed on social media. My daughter and my niece — me and them — are working on this relationship. I didn’t say it was going to be easy. Both sides have agreed to counseling. Words were said that cannot be taken back. But we just prayed, and asked the Lord to forgive us of all our sins. So, the Bible also teaches that he without sin casts the first stone."[1]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Arkansas
No specific grounds are required for recall in Arkansas. To get recalls on the ballot against mayors or members of boards of directors, supporters must collect signatures equal to 35% of ballots cast for all candidates for the office at the preceding primary at which the officials were nominated or elected. To get recalls on the ballot against school board members, supporters must collect signatures equal to 35% of eligible electors. There is no time limit for collecting signatures.[2][3]
Recall context
- See also: Ballotpedia's Recall Report
Ballotpedia covers recall efforts across the country for all state and local elected offices. A recall effort is considered official if the petitioning party has filed an official form, such as a notice of intent to recall, with the relevant election agency.
The chart below shows how many officials were included in recall efforts from 2012 to 2024 as well as how many of them defeated recall elections to stay in office and how many were removed from office in recall elections.
See also
External links
Footnotes
