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City commission recall, Alma, Michigan (2021)
| Alma City Commission recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
Audra Stahl Nick Piccolo |
| Recall status |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2021 Recalls in Michigan Michigan recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Vice Mayor Roxann Herrington and City Commissioners Audra Stahl and Nick Piccolo did not qualify for the ballot in Alma, Michigan, after organizers were unable to collect the needed signatures by the deadline of December 31, 2021.[1][2]
Organizers initiated the recall after the Alma City Commission voted 4-2 to approve a re-zoning request to make it possible for a juvenile migrant center to open in Alma. Herrington, Stahl, and Piccolo were among the four who voted in favor of the request. Commissioner Roger Allman, the fourth vote, and Mayor Greg Mapes, who recused himself, were not legally eligible to be recalled because they had not yet served one year in office.[2]
Recall supporters
The Gratiot County Republican Party, including Chair Chuck Murphy, initiated the recall effort after Herrington, Stahl, and Piccolo voted in favor of a re-zoning request to make it possible for a juvenile migrant center to open in Alma.[2]
The center was designed to temporarily house boys ages 12 to 17 who crossed the U.S. border without a parent or guardian. It would be operated by Bethany Christian Services in the Warwick Living Center, a former nursing home.[3][4]
The Alma City Commission approved the re-zoning request after the planning commission had voted 4-2 against it in August 2021.[5] Local GOP chair Chuck Murphy said, "They’re disrespecting the citizens of the community. ... The planning commission turned it down for valid reasons and they decided to overturn it."[2]
Recall opponents
In an op-ed in the Morning Sun, Mayor Greg Mapes gave the following argument in favor of the migrant center:[6]
| “ |
The small, but very vocal, group opposed to the project has repeatedly spoken of their displeasure with the immigration policies of the United States of America, and they attempted to paint the intended clients of the services as convicted criminals. (They are not, and let us acknowledge that our good neighbors have successfully hosted thousands of actual convicted criminals in their prisons for years.) Their argument centered on the City of Alma being able to influence national policy by rejecting this application. Not only would this tail not wag that dog, it will deprive a leading corporate citizen of Alma from achieving the highest and best use of their property as they see fit. Our planning commission made their recommendation to deny despite the lack of any factual evidence that conditions could not be met. This was wrong, and will establish a disastrous precedent if it is followed. Therefore, I feel that it is imperative that the Alma City Commission now take the uncommon step of rejecting the recommendation of the planning commission, and approve the conditional rezoning request of Masonic Pathways; respecting their property rights and allowing the City of Alma to continue upon the path of supporting increased opportunities for its citizens.[7] |
” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Michigan
The Gratiot County Election Commission approved the initial recall petition for circulation in a meeting on September 29, 2021.[8] After the three commissioners appealed the approval, Michigan Circuit Court Judge Shannon Schlegel ruled on November 5 that the petition language was not sufficiently clear and factual.[9]
Recall organizers submitted a second set of petitions, which was considered by the election commission on November 9. After the commission rejected the revised petition language, organizers submitted a third set of petitions, which were approved by the election commission on November 17.[10][11]
The recall did not qualify for the ballot after organizers were unable to collect the needed signatures by the deadline of December 31, 2021.[1]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 MyJournalCourier, "Recall drive tied to migrant housing vote fails in Alma," January 4, 2022
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Morning Sun, "Petitions filed to recall 3 Alma city commissioners," September 17, 2021
- ↑ ABC12 News, "Alma clears way to house teens from US border," September 15, 2021
- ↑ ABC12 News, "Migrant shelter vote leads to resignation, recall effort in Alma," September 20, 2021
- ↑ ABC12 News, "Alma Planning Commission rejects a zoning change to allow teen immigrant housing," August 5, 2021
- ↑ The Morning Sun, "Column: City commission must approve rezoning request of Masonic Pathways," September 7, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Morning Sun, "Petition language approved in recall of 3 Alma city commissioners," September 29, 2021
- ↑ Morning Sun, "Judge rejects Alma recall petition language," November 8, 2021
- ↑ Morning Sun, "Election commission rejects revised Alma recall petition," November 9, 2021
- ↑ WKAR, "Third attempt at Alma recall petition approved by county board," November 19, 2021
