Herbert Frederick, Gerard McNamara and Scott Golden recalls, West Wildwood, New Jersey
| West Wildwood Mayor and City Council recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
Gerard McNamara |
| Recall status |
| Recall election date |
| December 7, 2010 |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2010 Recalls in New Jersey New Jersey recall laws Mayoral recalls City council recalls Recall reports |
A vote about whether to recall Herbert Frederick and Gerard McNamara from their elected positions in West Wildwood, New Jersey took place in a special recall election on December 7, 2010.[1] Frederick was the mayor of West Wildwood, and McNamara a city commissioner. Both officials retained their seats in the election, although it took a judge until mid-February 2011 to finally settle the election.[2]
A vote about whether to recall Scott Golden, also a member of the West Wildwood city commission, was held on January 11, 2011. Golden also retained his seat.[3]
The recall effort directed at Frederick began in 2009. Those in favor of the recall said that the main reason they wanted Frederick out of office is because of his actions with regard to how water service to the town should be operated and maintained.
The effort directed against McNamara began in April 2010.[4]
West Wildwood had 482 registered voters at the time.[3]
Path to the ballot
- August 7, 2009: Borough Clerk Dorothy Tomlin was "administratively excused" from any oversight responsibilities for the recall process, and Mayor Frederick appointed Richard Deaney in her place as interim town clerk.[5]
- August 24, 2009: Richard Deaney certified the notice of intent to recall McNamara.
- August 2009: A notice of intent to recall Scott Golden is filed.
- November 20, 2009: Borough Clerk Tomlin says that recall supporters submitted enough signatures to force a recall election, and sets the election for January 26, 2010. Frederick had five business days to decide whether or not to resign his post. He said, "Oh no, I'm not resigning. I was elected to office."[6][7][8]
- December 2009: Tomlin moves the election date from January 26 to February 23. Frederick files a lawsuit.[9]
- February 5, 2010: Superior Court Judge Raymond Batten Judge Raymond Batten rules that deficiencies in the planning and scheduling of the recall election are such that he cannot allow the election to take place on February 23.
Aftermath
In March 2015, a couple settled a suit with the city of West Wildwood for $350,000 over an alleged retaliation stemming from this recall election. The suit filed by Jim and Lori Perloff claimed that the city built a 66-foot concrete wall in a public right away adjacent their property that prevented them from using their driveways and garages as retaliation for their role in the recall.[10]
Public information advocate John Paff said the settlement did "not constitute an admission of wrongdoing by West Wildwood or any of its officials." City administrator Chris Ridings said the entire sum was paid by the Atlantic County Joint Insurance Fund, which the city pays $64,000 annually for liability insurance.[10]
See also
- Recall campaigns in New Jersey
- Political recall efforts, 2009
- Ernie Troiano and Bill Davenport recall, Wildwood, New Jersey, 2009
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Shore News Today, "Frederick, McNamara narrowly avoid recall," December 9, 2010
- ↑ Shore News Today, "Judge decides that recall election is over," February 15, 2011
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Press of Atlantic City, "West Wildwood voters choose to keep Golden in recall bid," January 11, 2011
- ↑ Press of Atlantic City, "West Wildwood group plans recall for McNamara," April 24, 2010
- ↑ The Press of Atlantic City, "W. Wildwood hires deputy clerk to process recalls," August 14, 2009
- ↑ Shore News Today, "As one recall petition is certified, another is filed," September 1, 2009 (dead link)
- ↑ Press of Atlantic City, "Recall election date set in West Wildwood," November 23, 2009
- ↑ Cap May County Herald, "West Wildwood Mayor Challenges Recall Petition," December 2, 2010
- ↑ Press of Atlantic City, "West Wildwood mayor sues borough clerk, recall panel," December 23, 2009
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 The Wildwood Leader, "JIF settles lawsuit with West Wildwood couple," March 5, 2015
