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Craig Shubert recall, Hudson, Ohio (2021)
| Hudson Mayoral recall |
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| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2021 Recalls in Ohio Ohio recall laws Mayoral recalls Recall reports |
An effort in Hudson, Ohio, to recall Mayor Craig Shubert was initiated in October 2021. Recall organizers paused the effort in November 2021.[1]
Recall supporters
The recall effort was organized by Hudson resident Karen Farkas in response to comments made by Shubert to the Hudson City School District Board of Education. On September 13, 2021, Shubert told the five members of the school board that they should resign or face criminal charges over writing prompts in a book used in a high school course.[2][3]
Farkas said, "We would like to give Mayor Shubert another chance to publicly apologize to the school board, City Council, city administrators and the residents of Hudson. If not, the recall petition drive will get underway." On October 6, 2021, Farkas told the Akron Beacon Journal that the recall effort was going forward after Shubert declined to apologize. She added that the recall effort would be withdrawn if Shubert offered a public apology.[2]
Recall opponents
Shubert said in the September school board meeting that, "It has come to my attention that your educators are distributing essentially what is child pornography in the classroom. I've spoken to a judge this evening. She's already confirmed that. So I'm going to give you a simple choice: You either choose to resign from this board of education or you will be charged."[4]
Background
The Akron Beacon Journal reported that writing prompts asked students to "write a sex scene you wouldn't show your mom," to "rewrite the sex scene from above into one that you'd let your mom read," and to "drink a beer and describe how it tastes." The prompts were contained in a book called 642 Things to Write About, which was used in the Writing in the Liberal Arts II course.[4]
Superintendent Phil Herman said the book had been pulled from the course after parents complained about the prompts. He noted that none of the prompts in question were used as a part of the writing course.[4]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Ohio
Recall organizers were required to submit valid signatures equal to 25% of registered voters in the most recent gubernatorial election; 3,095 signatures in the recall effort against Shubert.[2]
Reasons for puasing the recall effort were listed on the Recall Mayor Shubert website:[1]
- With the recent re-election by a wide margin of the three incumbent School Board members, the community has clearly indicated to the Mayor that his statements at the Sept. 13 school board meeting were unacceptable.
- With the re-election of these school board members and the election of two new at-large Council members public meetings and comments will hopefully become less divisive, more civil and respectful.
- Many residents support the recall but chose not to sign the petition, stating they will show their displeasure at the ballot box if the mayor seeks re-election in 2023.
- The committee felt the city should not be penalized by the mayor’s actions by having to fund a special election, which would cost tens of thousands of dollars.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Recall Mayor Shubert, "The drive to collect signatures to hold an election to recall Hudson Mayor Craig Shubert has been paused.," accessed November 29, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Akron Beacon Journal, "Hudson resident launching petition drive to recall mayor over book controversy," October 6, 2021
- ↑ ScripType, "Resident to petition for mayoral recall; city manager gets a raise," November 2, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Akron Beacon Journal, "Hudson mayor: School board should resign over material suggesting kids write about sex, drinking," September 23, 2021
