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KT Jacobs recall, Columbia Heights, Minnesota (2023-2024)
| KT Jacobs recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Recall election date |
| February 13, 2024 (canceled) |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2024 Recalls in Minnesota Minnesota recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
An election to recall City Councilwoman KT Jacobs was scheduled for February 13, 2024, in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. On February 9, 2024, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the grounds for the recall were insufficient. The election was canceled.[1][2][3]
Recall vote
Recall question
The recall election was canceled after a ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Replacement question
Laurel Deneen, Stan Hoium, and Robert Rogne had filed to replace Jacobs if the recall election had occurred and been successful in removing her from office.
Recall supporters
A group called Concerned Citizens of Columbia Heights initiated the recall effort. According to the group's website, "City Council member Kay “Kt” Jacobs is facing recall from office in Columbia Heights, MN because of her racist behavior, lying to the City Council, and repeatedly violating the city’s personal and professional code of conduct."[4]
Recall opponents
Jacobs has said that she will not resign. She has denied allegations that she made a phone call to Councilman Justice Spriggs that "included inappropriate comments regarding his race and upbringing," according to background given during a special meeting of the city council on August 1, 2022. Spriggs was a candidate for the office of city council at the time.[5][6]
Gregory Joseph, an attorney for Jacobs, has said that the recall petition is insufficient. On September 21, 2023, Jacobs filed a lawsuit arguing that the reasons given for the recall effort were not valid and that there were technical issues with the petition's signature pages that should have disqualified it.[7][8]
After the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the grounds for the recall against Jacobs were insufficient, her attorney said, “There was never any merit to this recall effort. It’s unfortunate that it got this far, particularly since we tried to put a stop to it even before the vote was taken last July to schedule the election. But the Minnesota Supreme Court got it right, and my client is eager to put this very difficult experience behind her.”[3]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Minnesota
Minnesota allows the following grounds for recall: serious malfeasance or nonfeasance during the term of office in the performance of the duties of the office or conviction during the term of office of a serious crime. To get the recall on the ballot, supporters must file signatures equal to 25% of the total votes cast for the position at the last election.[9] Recall supporters have 90 days to circulate petitions.[10]
Recall organizers needed to collect 1,880 signatures. On June 28, 2023, organizers turned in 2,000 signatures to the city clerk, who had five days to determine the validity of each signature. Approximately 200 of the signatures were found to be insufficient. Organizers submitted corrected signatures, and a recall election was scheduled for February 13, 2024.[2][7][11][12][13]
On February 9, 2024, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the grounds for the recall against Jacobs were not sufficient. The election was canceled.[3]
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
- Recall campaigns in Minnesota
- Political recall efforts, 2023
- Political recall efforts, 2024
- City council recalls
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Columbia Heights, Minnesota
- Concerned Citizens of Columbia Heights site
Footnotes
- ↑ Star Tribune, "After racist phone call, Columbia Heights City Council demands member resign — again," May 24, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Star Tribune, "Columbia Heights City Council member accused of racist phone call to face recall election," July 28, 2023
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 KSTP, "Minnesota Supreme Court stops recall election for Columbia Heights council member," February 9, 2024
- ↑ Kt Jacobs, "Home," accessed June 5, 2023
- ↑ Columbia Heights, "Special City Council Meeting," accessed June 5, 2023
- ↑ Bring Me The News, "Petition calls for resignation of Columbia Heights City Council member over alleged racist phone call," May 31, 2023
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 ABC Newspapers, "Jacobs threatens legal action against recall, cites deficiencies," July 11, 2023
- ↑ Star Tribune, "Columbia Heights council member sues to block recall election," September 21, 2023
- ↑ Minnesota Constitution, "Article VIII," accessed October 16, 2023
- ↑ 2022 Minnesota Statutes, "211C.06 ISSUING, CIRCULATING, AND VERIFYING PETITION." accessed October 16, 2023
- ↑ Columbia Heights, "City Charter," accessed June 5, 2023
- ↑ Kt Jacobs, "FAQ," accessed June 5, 2023
- ↑ Bring Me The News, "Petition to recall Columbia Heights City Council member clears key hurdle," July 1, 2023
