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Kenny Hodges and Sherry Sullenberger recall, Highland County Public Schools, Virginia (2025-2026)
| Kenny Hodges and Sherry Sullenberger recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
Sherry Sullenberger |
| Recall status |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2026 Recalls in Virginia Virginia recall laws School board recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Kenny Hodges and Sherry Sullenberger from their positions on the Highland County Public Schools school board is underway.[1]
Recall supporters
The petition to recall Hodges gives "misconduct constituting neglect of duty, misuse of office, conflict of interest, and conduct unbecoming of an elected official pursuant to Va. Code 24.2-233" as the reasons for the recall effort.
The petition to recall Sullenberger gives "neglect of duty, misuse of office, and conduct unbecoming of a public official" as the reasons for the recall effort.
Cane Sampson initiated the recall effort.
Recall opponents
Hodges and Sullenberger did not respond to a request for comment from The Recorder.
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Virginia
In the case of a successful recall petition, Virginia does not hold recall elections. Instead, the petition is sent to the circuit court for trial. Virginia allows the following grounds for recall: neglect of duty, misuse of office, or incompetence in the performance of duties when that neglect of duty, misuse of office, or incompetence in the performance of duties has a material adverse effect upon the conduct of the office.[2] The petition for recall must be signed by at least 10% of the number of people who voted in the last election for the office. The state does not have a time limit for circulating petitions.[3]
2025 recall efforts
- See also: School board recalls
Ballotpedia tracked 29 school board recall efforts against 55 board members in 2025. Recall elections against three board members were approved by voters on April 22, 2025, and June 10, 2025, removing all three from office. One recall election against a board member was approved on November 4, 2025, and one recall effort against a board member was defeated. Recall elections against three other members were also held on November 18, 2025, with voters retaining all three members.
The chart below details the status of 2025 recall efforts by individual school board member.
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 2025 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
- Ballotpedia's Recall Report
- Highland County Public Schools, Virginia
- Highland County Public Schools, Virginia, elections
- Recall campaigns in Virginia
- Political recall efforts, 2025
- Political recall efforts, 2026
- School board recalls
- States that allow school board recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The Recorder, "Petitions started to recall school board members," December 4, 2025
- ↑ Code of Virginia, "§ 24.2-233. (Effective until January 1, 2024) Removal of elected and certain appointed officers by courts." accessed October 16, 2023
- ↑ Code of Virginia, "§ 24.2-233. (Effective until January 1, 2024) Removal of elected and certain appointed officers by courts." accessed October 17, 2023
