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Heather Donahue recall, Freedom, Maine (2025)
| Heather Donahue recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Recall election date |
| April 23, 2025 |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2025 Recalls in Maine Maine recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
An election to recall Heather Donahue from her position on the Freedom Select Board in Maine was scheduled for April 23, 2025. Recall supporters collected 73 signatures.[1][2] Voters recalled Donahue.[3]
Recall vote
Heather Donahue recall, 2025
Heather Donahue lost the Freedom Select Board recall election on April 23, 2025.
Recall Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✖ | Yes |
57.3
|
122 | ||
No |
42.7
|
91 | |||
Total Votes |
213 | ||||
|
|
Recall supporters
Recall organizers alleged that Donahue violated the town's charter by acting independently from the other members of the Freedom Select Board. The recall petition states that Donahue used a road subject to a lawsuit regarding whether it is private property or if the town has a public easement, marked trees along the road with orange paint, and took part in interviews about the lawsuit with the Kennebec Journal and Waterville Sentinel independent of the select board.[1]
Recall opponents
Regarding the recall effort, Donahue said, "It would be one thing if they had actual cause, but the accusations are deliberately misleading. I was the lead researcher for the select board. I was performing my duties, as assigned. The fact that everything I’m accused of is actually presented in my sworn testimony makes it even more ridiculous."[2]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Maine
No specific grounds are required for recall in Maine. The recall of local officials in Maine is governed by local charters. Because of this, recall laws regarding signature requirements and circulation time vary by locality.[4]
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
- Ballotpedia's Recall Report
- Freedom, Maine
- Recall campaigns in Maine
- Political recall efforts, 2025
- City council recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Midcoast Villager, "A Retired Actress, a Can of Spray Paint and a Recall Election," March 19, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 centralmaine.com, "Freedom selectwoman faces recall over town road dispute," March 25, 2025
- ↑ Midcoast Villager, "Freedom Voters Recall Heather Donahue from Select Board," April 23, 2025
- ↑ Maine Municipal Association, "Local Government in Maine," August 1, 2016
