Michele Myers and Cynthia Burton recall, Crescent City, Florida (2022-2023)
| Michele Myers and Cynthia Burton recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
Cynthia Burton |
| Recall status |
Did not go to a vote (Burton & Myers) |
| Recall election date |
| May 30, 2023 (Burton) |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2023 Recalls in Florida Florida recall laws City council recalls Mayoral recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Mayor Michele Myers and City Commissioner Cynthia Burton that began when recall petitions were filed on June 27, 2023, did not go to a vote in Crescent City, Florida. Recall organizers submitted a sufficient number of signatures for a recall election to have been held on October 3, 2023, but the recall process was halted by a circuit court judge who ruled the reasons for the recall effort were not sufficient. An election did not occur. Myers and Burton will remain in their seats.[1][2]
An earlier effort to recall Burton that began in 2022 resulted in an election scheduled for May 30, 2023. Voters recalled Burton. A court case involving the recall effort reached the Fifth District Court of Appeal. The court ruled that the recall petition against Burton was legally insufficient and invalidated the results of the election. Burton retained her seat.[3][4][5][6][7]
Recall vote
Recall question
Cynthia Burton recall, 2023
Cynthia Burton lost the Crescent City City Commission recall election on May 30, 2023.
Recall Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✖ | Yes |
59.1
|
182 | ||
No |
40.9
|
126 | |||
Total Votes |
308 | ||||
|
|
Replacement question
General election
The special general election was canceled because only one candidate filed to run. Christopher Coleman won without appearing on the ballot. He did not assume office after a Fifth District Court of Appeal ruling invalidated the recall election.
Recall supporters
A group called Recall Crescent City Florida, led by formal mayoral candidate Craig Oates, initiated the first recall campaign. The recall's supporters alleged that Cynthia Burton had violated Florida's Government in the Sunshine Law. The alleged violation took place on January 14, 2021, when the city commission met to discuss an ordinance that would end the city's police department. According to the Palatka Daily News, the public could not attend the meeting in person due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it was live-streamed on YouTube, and residents were able to enter a comment into the public record by calling the city during the meeting.[4]
The earlier petition involving Burton read, "Burton met with Crescent City commissioners, Mayor and City Manager in private, behind locked doors at Crescent City, City Hall, depriving members of the general public from attending the meeting in person as required under Florida law.”[4]
Recall Crescent City Florida filed a second petition seeking to recall Burton on June 27, 2023. Organizers have alleged that Burton filed frivolous petitions for injunction with the 7th Judicial Circuit Court that prevent residents from being within 500 feet of her home and the Crescent City City Hall. The group filed a petion seeking to recall Myers on the same date. They alleged that Myers signed a check for $2,561.50 without a public discussion or city commission approval on June 4, 2021.[1][8]
Recall opponents
Burton gave the following response to the first recall campaign: "These are the same grounds that were unsuccessfully used to recall Commissioner Judith West in 2021. ... After review by the State Attorney’s Office on March 10, 2021, no wrongdoing was found, and the case was dismissed.”[4]
Myers has said, "I stand strong in knowing I am not guilty of any malfeasance, and I thank the community for their belief in me as mayor and for their support."[8]
In response to the second recall effort, Burton has said, "On February 6, 2023, I, as an individual and not my role as a city commissioner, exercised my right to file these petitions, as is allowed for any citizen, with the 7th Judicial Circuit Court, as a civil matter." Additionally, she said, "The form asks for protection specifically where I live and where I work."[9]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Florida
Recall organizers needed to collect 152 signatures for both Myers and Burton to trigger a recall election. They collected a sufficient number of signatures. A circuit court judge ruled that the reasons for the recall effort were insufficient, and the recall process was halted. An election did not occur.[2][10]
See also
- Recall campaigns in Florida
- Political recall efforts, 2022
- Political recall efforts, 2023
- City council recalls
- Mayoral recalls
- Judith West recall, Crescent City, Florida (2021)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Palatka Daily News, "Group launches Crescent City recall efforts – again," June 27, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ballotpedia staff, "Email communication with Putnam County Supervisor of Elections Charles L. Overturf III," September 21, 2023
- ↑ Palatka Daily News, "Crescent City recall could cost city $6K," February 13, 2023
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Palatka Daily News, "Crescent City recall moves ahead," January 13, 2023
- ↑ Palatka Daily News, "Judge alters CC recall election decision," May 1, 2023
- ↑ Palatka Daily News, "Crescent City votes to oust commissioner," May 31, 2023
- ↑ Palatka Daily News, "Appeals court rules in favor of CC commissioner," June 12, 2023
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Palatka Daily News, "Recall efforts move ahead as signatures verified," July 1, 2023
- ↑ Palatka Daily News, "Officials push back against malfeasance claims," July 7, 2023
- ↑ Palatka Daily News, "Defense statements added to recall petitions," July 12, 2023
