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Haines Borough Assembly recalls, Alaska (2017)
| Haines Borough Assembly recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
Heather Lende Tresham Gregg |
| Recall status |
| Recall election date |
| August 15, 2017 |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2017 Recalls in Alaska Alaska recall laws County commission recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Tom Morphet, Heather Lende, and Tresham Gregg from their positions on the Haines Borough Assembly in Alaska began in April 2017. The recalls were initiated on claims of violations of the Alaska Open Meetings Act and the misuse of an official position. All three recalls were defeated in the special election on August 15, 2017.
Morphet and Lende were elected to the council in 2016, and Gregg was elected to the council in 2015. All three were accused of violating the open meetings act for discussing in private whether to approve an aspect of a harbor expansion project. Morphet and Lende were also accused of misusing their positions when they requested access to the full police department blotter. Since Morphet is the publisher of the Chilkat Valley News, and Lende writes the obituaries, recall proponents said that they would benefit from the publication of the full blotter.[1]
Recall vote
The special recall election was held on August 15, 2017. The polls closed at 8:00 pm local time. All three recalls were defeated.
| Recall of Tom Morphet | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Recall | 440 | 41.86% | ||
 Retain | 611 | 58.14% | ||
| Election results via: Haines Borough | ||||
| Recall of Heather Lende | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Recall | 405 | 38.61% | ||
| Retain | 644 | 61.39% | ||
| Election results via: Haines Borough | ||||
| Recall of Tresham Gregg | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Recall | 433 | 41.28% | ||
| Retain | 616 | 58.72% | ||
| Election results via: Haines Borough | ||||
Recall supporters
Don Turner Jr. submitted the applications for recall, and there were nine other sponsors on the applications.[2] Ryan Cook, who ran for the council in 2016, was also involved in the recall. Cook said those on the council had personal agendas and had not learned the correct processes of being on the assembly.[3]
Recall opponents
In response to the recall effort, Morphet said, "I think these are so far-fetched as to be laughable." He called on those seeking the recall to "stop wasting taxpayers’ money by bringing frivolous claims such as these."[2]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Alaska
Recall supporters had 60 days to collect 258 valid signatures for each recall petition.[1] Petitions were turned in on June 6, 2017. The borough clerk had 10 days to certify the signatures for each petition.[4] The signatures were certified, and the recall election was scheduled for August 15, 2017. The clerk said the special election would cost the city about $5,500.[3]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Haines Borough Alaska recall. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 KHNS Radio, "Recall petitions drawn up for three Haines Assembly members," April 12, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 KTOO Public Media, "Recall effort underway for three Haines Assembly members," April 5, 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 KHNS Radio, "Effort to oust half of the Haines Assembly progresses to special recall election," June 13, 2017
- ↑ Must Read Alaska, "Haines activists turn in recall petition, await decision," June 7, 2017
