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Joseph Nichols recall, Fraser, Michigan (2017)
| Fraser Mayor recall |
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| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2017 Recalls in Michigan Michigan recall laws Mayoral recalls Recall reports |
An effort in Fraser, Michigan, to recall Mayor Joseph Nichols from his position was initiated in August 2017. Nichols was removed from office by the city council on September 18, 2017, after a special tribunal hearing on sexual harassment allegations. Recall organizer Thomas LaDuke told local media that he would continue to gather signatures because Nichols was likely to appeal the council's decision in court.[1][2] LaDuke submitted recall petitions with 1,782 signatures to the county clerk on November 20, 2017.[3]
LaDuke filed four petitions against Nichols with the Macomb County Clerk on August 4, 2017.[4] The county election commission rejected three of the four petitions on August 17, 2017, because they were not considered clear and factual and a fourth petition was withdrawn by LaDuke due to an error in the recall language.[5]
LaDuke filed six petitions with revised language to the county clerk on August 24, 2017.[6] The county election commission approved four of the six petitions for circulation on September 7, 2017, with approved petitions noted in the Recall supporters section.[7]
Recall supporters
LaDuke's second round of recall petitions made the following accusations:[6]
- Petition 1: LaDuke argues that Nichols faces a city council tribunal into sexual harassment allegations from city employees. (Approved for circulation)
- Petition 2: LaDuke alleges that Nichols corrected a meeting attendee who referred to him as Joe rather than Mayor. (Approved for circulation)
- Petition 3: LaDuke cites Nichols' vote to approve an eight-year waste management contract with Green for Life, Inc. (Approved for circulation)
- Petition 4: LaDuke alleges that Nichols violated the free speech rights of two residents by muting their microphones during a meeting on February 11, 2016. (Approved for circulation)
- Petition 5: LaDuke alleges that Nichols accused council members of violating open meetings rules without evidence. (Rejected for circulation)
- Petition 6: LaDuke alleges that robocalls recorded by Nichols did not identify who paid for the calls. (Rejected for circulation)
LaDuke's first round of recall petitions made the following accusations:[4]
- Petition 1: LaDuke alleged that Nichols violated the free speech rights of two residents by muting their microphones during a meeting on February 11, 2016.
- Petition 2: LaDuke alleged that Nichols violated the Freedom of Information Act by failing to comply with a request for private emails related to city business on January 17, 2017.
- Petition 3: LaDuke alleged that Nichols accused four council members of violating open meetings rules without evidence.
- Petition 4: LaDuke alleged that Nichols did not update political activities with the county after recording robocalls.
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Michigan
The Macomb County Election Commission met on August 17, 2017, to determine if the first round of recall petitions were sufficient to advance. This commission includes the county clerk, county treasurer, and probate judge.[4] The commission rejected three of the four petitions and LaDuke withdrew a fourth petition.[6]
The commission met on September 7, 2017, to determine if the second round of recall petitions were sufficient to advance to the signature-gathering stage. LaDuke needed at least 1,305 signatures from registered voters to require an election.[4]
Recent news
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See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ WXYZ, "Fraser City Council votes to remove mayor and acting mayor," September 18, 2017
- ↑ Fox 2, "Legal battle not over after Fraser mayor, acting mayor ousted for sexual harassment," September 19, 2017
- ↑ Macomb Daily, "Recall petitions against ousted Fraser mayor submitted," November 20, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Detroit Free Press, "Fraser mayor target of recall attempt but not over sex harassment allegations," August 10, 2017
- ↑ Macomb Daily, "Three Fraser mayor recall petitions rejected, one withdrawn," August 17, 2017
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Detroit Free Press, "Fraser mayor again facing recall attempt: 6 new petitions with proposed language filed," August 24, 2017
- ↑ Detroit Free Press, "Fraser mayor faces recall battle amid sexual harassment allegations," September 7, 2017
