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James Harris recall, Jonesboro, Louisiana (2023)
| James Harris recall |
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| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2023 Recalls in Louisiana Louisiana recall laws Mayoral recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Mayor James Harris did not go to a vote in Jonesboro, Louisiana. After a court challenge and subsequent appeal, it was determined that petitioners did not submit enough signatures to put the recall election on the ballot.[1]
Recall supporters
The recall effort was organized by a group called Fit-to-Fight for Justice and Equality. Members of the group included Henry Bradley, city councilman Devin Flowers, Danettia Hayes, and former mayor Leslie Thompson.[2]
Thompson said about the decision to pursue a recall:[2]
| “ |
We had to decide whether to look at this from the criminal standpoint, which we really didn’t want to do when there are voting irregularities, such as voting suppression, and those types of things folks haven’t been able to vote for. It’s really a civil matter.[3] |
” |
Recall opponents
Harris responded to the recall effort:[2]
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It’s very hard to lose by a small margin. You can lose by a 1,000, and it’s okay, but if you lose by 20, then it’s kind of hard. It’s something that has not been accepted by the council member Flowers and the former mayor Leslie Thompson.[3] |
” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Louisiana
The number of valid signatures required to force a recall election is 33.3% of eligible voters in the district. Completed petitions must be submitted within 180 days of being filed with the Louisiana Secretary of State. Once signatures are handed in, the registrar of voters has 20 working days to certify the recall petition. If enough signatures are certified by the registrar of voters, the petition is forwarded to the governor who has 15 days to issue an election proclamation.
Recall organizers submitted 811 signatures to Jackson Parish Registrar of Voters Tina Cockerham, who verified 677 signatures. Of the 134 signatures that were found invalid, 49 were removed due to issues with handwriting. Recall organizers filed a lawsuit arguing that the registrar didn't have the authority to remove the 49 signatures. Judge Rick Warren ruled in favor of the recall organizers.[4] Harris appealed the ruling, which was overturned by an appellate court.[1]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 KTVE, "Jonesboro mayor recall overturned, officials say," August 30, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 KTVE, "Community Committee files petition to recall Jonesboro mayor James Harris," August 21, 2023
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Jackson Parish Journal, "2nd Judicial District Court Rules in Favor of Former Mayor of Jonesboro," August 20, 2023
