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Kendra Dumont and Robert Prescott recall, Shirley, Massachusetts (2017)
| Shirley Town Selectmen recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
Robert Prescott |
| Recall status |
| Recall election date |
| January 30, 2017 |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2017 Recalls in Massachusetts Massachusetts recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
An effort in Shirley, Massachusetts, to recall Town Selectmen Kendra Dumont and Robert Prescott from their positions was launched in August 2016. Recall affidavits were filed with the town clerk on August 22, 2016, and signatures were submitted on September 28, 2016.[1][2] On October 5, 2016, the Shirley Board of Registrars verified sufficient signatures to require a recall election. Dumont and Prescott filed a motion to halt the recall on December 1, 2016, arguing that the state's recall requirements were not followed when gathering signatures.[3] Their motion was rejected in the Lowell Superior Court on January 19, 2017, and selectmen signed warrants for an election by January 20, 2017.[4][5] Dumont and Prescott were recalled from office after voters approved both recalls on January 30, 2017.[6]
Recall vote
A recall vote for Dumont and Prescott was held on January 30, 2017.[3] Holly Haase and James Wilson won election to the town board after the recalls of Dumont and Prescott, respectively.[7]
| Recall of Kendra Dumont | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Recall | 832 | 66.35% | ||
| Retain | 422 | 33.65% | ||
| Recall of Robert Prescott | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Recall | 825 | 64.66% | ||
| Retain | 451 | 35.34% | ||
Replacement votes
| Shirley Board of Selectmen, Dumont Seat | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Holly Haase | 872 | 66.77% | ||
 Kendra Dumont (incumbent) | 434 | 33.23% | ||
| Election results via: Nashoba Valley Voice (accessed January 30, 2017) | ||||
| Shirley Board of Selectmen, Prescott Seat | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| James Wilson | 830 | 63.5% | ||
| Robert Prescott (incumbent) | 477 | 36.5% | ||
| Election results via: Nashoba Valley Voice (accessed January 30, 2017) | ||||
Recall supporters
Recall organizers sought the removal of Dumont and Prescott due to their support for an increased benefits package for Town Administrator Patrice Garvin. The affidavits argued that the town administrator's contract requires public approval for compensation changes and successive public votes at town meetings in 2015 rejected an increase.[1]
Recall opponents
Dumont told local media that the recall effort was "a terrible waste of taxpayers money" and that the raise was part of a larger salary increase for town employees. Prescott argued that the recall law should be used to deal with illegal actions by officials rather than political struggles.[1]
Attorney general's ruling
On January 18, 2017, the state attorney general's office ruled that the Shirley town board violated open meeting laws during meetings in July 2016 and August 2016. Selectman Enrico Cappucci filed a complaint in October 2016 that accused Garvin, Dumont, and Prescott of discussing law enforcement matters in executive sessions rather than holding discussions in public meetings. The attorney general concluded that the board failed to use the Criminal Offender Record Information Statute (CORI) when opting for an executive session.[8]
Prescott accused Cappucci of filing the complaint as a means of impacting the recall election. Dumont told local media that any open meetings law violation was unintentional.[8]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Massachusetts
In June 2016, the Massachusetts State Legislature approved legislation allowing Shirley residents to recall local officials. This law was passed after residents lobbied for a recall process in 2015. According to the law, the following steps must be met to bring the recall to the ballot, with a ☑ next to steps completed in the recall effort against Dumont and Prescott:[1]
- ☑ Town clerk provides petition sheets to first 10 people listed on affidavit
- ☑ Recall organizers gather signatures from 10 percent of town's registered voters within 30 days of receiving petitions
- ☑ Town clerk reviews signatures for validity; if approved, an election is scheduled between 64 days and 90 days after verification of signatures
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Shirley Selectman recall 2017. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Recall campaigns in Massachusetts
- Political recall efforts, 2016
- Political recall efforts, 2017
- City council recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Sentinel & Enterprise, "Shirley selectmen face recall over administrator's benefits," August 25, 2016
- ↑ Lowell Sun, "Recall papers returned in Shirley," September 29, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lowell Sun, "Shirley selectmen file court complaint to stop recall effort," December 1, 2016
- ↑ Nashoba Valley Voice, "In rare noon meeting, Shirley selectmen sign recall election warrant," January 17, 2017
- ↑ Lowell Sun, "With injunction denied, Shirley recall set Jan. 30," January 20, 2017
- ↑ Nashoba Valley Voice, "Shirley selectmen recalled and replaced," January 30, 2017
- ↑ Sentinel & Enterprise, "Haase, Wilson step forward as Shirley candidates," December 26, 2016
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Sentinel & Enterprise, "Attorney General finds Shirley selectmen violated open meeting law," January 23, 2017
