Emily Clouse recall, Thurston County, Washington (2024-2025)
| Emily Clouse recall |
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| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2025 Recalls in Washington Washington recall laws County commission recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Thurston County Commissioner Emily Clouse began on December 12, 2024 but did not go to a vote.[1] The recall petition was filed by Thurston County resident Arthur West after Clouse was censured by the Thurston County Board of Commissioners on December 11, 2024. The censure was brought in response to an investigation into Clouse's personal relationship with a county employee. A superior court judge in Washington dismissed the recall petition after finding that the charges against Clouse were not factually sufficient.[2]
Recall supporters
In the petition filed against Clouse, organizers stated that "she has committed an act of malfeasance, misfeasance or violation of oath of office."[1] Referring to the workplace investigation against Clouse, recall organizer Arthur West said the following: "If it’s sufficient for a county employee to be fired, it should be equally sufficient for commissioners."[1]
Recall opponents
As of December, 2024, Ballotpedia had not yet identified a response from Clouse.
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Washington
Washington allows the following grounds for recall: malfeasance or misfeasance while in office or violating the oath of office.[3] Before a recall petition can collect signatures, the grounds for recall must be considered by a superior court judge. If the judge rules that the grounds for recall meet the state requirements, the petition will be approved for circulation. To get the recall on the ballot, supporters must collect signatures equal to 25% or 35% of the votes cast for the office at the last election, depending on the office type.[4] Signatures must be collected within 180 days.[5]
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
- Thurston County, Washington
- Recall campaigns in Washington
- Political recall efforts, 2024
- County commission recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Olympian, "Thurston County voter files to recall Commissioner Emily Clouse after board censure," accessed December 30, 2024
- ↑ The Olympian, "Judge dismisses petition to recall Commissioner Emily Clouse. Here’s why," January 14, 2025
- ↑ Constitution of the State of Washington, "Article I, Section 33," accessed October 16, 2023
- ↑ Washington Constitution, "Article I, Section 34," accessed October 17, 2023
- ↑ Washington State Legislature, "Revised Code of Washington: 29A.56.150," accessed October 17, 2023
