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LeRoy Ott recall, York County, Nebraska (2025)
| LeRoy Ott recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Recall election date |
| December 9, 2025 |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2025 Recalls in Nebraska Nebraska recall laws County commission recalls Recall reports |
An election to recall York County Commissioner LeRoy Ott is scheduled for December 9, 2025, in Nebraska.
Waco resident Julia Wellman launched the effort on July 11, 2025. Recall organizers had 30 days to gather the 442 signatures required to trigger a special recall election.[1] On September 5, 2025, the York County Clerk's Office announced that they had certified a sufficient number of the signatures submitted by recall organizers.[2] The York County Commission set the election date for December 9, 2025.[3]
Recall vote
LeRoy Ott recall, 2025
LeRoy Ott is facing a recall election in the York County Commissioner District 2 recall on December 9, 2025.
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Recall supporters
Recall organizer Julia Wellman submitted the following statement outlining her reasons for the recall campaign against Ott:[4]
| “ |
My motivation behind this recall is not personal, I want to save the family farms, and this change in zoning would be bad for our farms and community. I am not typically a person who gets involved in politics, although I do keep up on current events. However, in the Spring of 2025, a very important issue came before the York County Board of Commissioners. On April 1, 2025, the York County Commissioners’ agenda included a discussion and vote regarding rezoning York County. It would mean solar farms would not have to comply with the current zoning laws. After nearly 3 years to study, discuss, debate and research this issue, the vote was taken with a final count of 2 no votes and 3 yes votes; with this outcome, the York County Commissioners decided against rezoning York County. However, because this vote was voted on as a motion instead of a resolution, there needed to be a revote exactly 2 weeks after the first vote. When I realized there would be a second vote, I called LeRoy personally on Saturday, April 12 at 11:20 AM. During this call, we discussed the upcoming vote and the issue of rezoning York County. He assured me he would not change his vote because, as worded, this was wrong for York County at this time. But on Tuesday, April 15 (just 3 days after this phone conversation), LeRoy did change his vote from a yes to a no. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and thought he must have a good reason, I called him 3 times to find out an explanation – he never answered and never returned my calls; I am confident that I’m not the only person who attempted to reach out to LeRoy regarding his change of heart. We have 5 commissioners in York County: 1 lives in York, 1 lived in the city of York before moving to attend college in Lincoln where he currently resides in a dorm and 1 lives just outside of York city limits on a paved road, leaving just 2 commissioners who live and drive any county roads regularly. How can 3 of our county commissioners understand the needs and concerns of the rural residents of our county when they do not drive our roads, live in our neighborhoods or face the same issues we do living outside the city of York? [5] |
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Recall opponents
Ott submitted the following statement in response to the recall petition:[4]
| “ |
I have been the County Commissioner for the 2 nd District in York County since I was appointed in January of 2025, and was elected to the position in November of 2025. I currently serve on the Veterans Committee, the Region V / Apace 9 Committee, the Aging and Transit Committee and the Legislative Committee. I communicate with our Nebraska State Senator Jana Hughes about issues concerning York County. I also attend meetings and have educational opportunities with the Nebraska Association of County Officials. The County Commissioners meet every other Tuesday at the York County Courthouse. I have attended Village Board and Planning Meetings in Waco and Gresham, and also have attended community meetings in York, McCool Junction, Henderson, Benedict, Gresham and Waco that were organized by Marvin Planning to generate community input and were open opportunities for people to share their opinions about what people want for York County. Part of the challenge of being a County Commissioner is studying state policies and requirements, considering budget issues, and listening to the needs of the members of the community, while working with the other commissioners to pass policy that is good for ALL of York County. One of the topics that the county commissioners have been addressing is Solar policy. My vote to continue to study the issue is why I am being recalled. My position on the topic has always been to compromise between those that want no solar and those who want solar everywhere in York County. I believe that land owners have rights to do what they want with their land, but it also must be tempered with the rights of their neighbors, as well as state, safety and environmental considerations. This is where I need your help. They were able to gather enough signatures to force an election to try to remove me from office. I need you to help me to continue to serve the members of the 2nd District of York County. I am not ready to stop being available to listen to your concerns and work to make York County a great place to live, learn and prosper. This will be a mail in election process, so please, I need everyone to obtain their ballot, mark their choice and submit it according to statute so that your vote will be counted. If you have any questions about the voting process, please contact the County Clerk at the York County Courthouse. It is very likely that you or someone you know has worked with me or has been involved in some of the activities that I have done in York County over the years. I coached and helped direct Legion Baseball, helped with the Optimists Baseball league, was on the York Parks and Rec Advisory Committee, continue to serve as a CASA volunteer for children involved in the court system, was an elder, Sunday School Teacher, Youth Leader, usher, member of the Lutheran Laymen’s League and Bible studies, Emmanuel / Faith School Board Member, Toastmasters, Yorkshire Playhouse, active father of two boys who thrived in the York educational system, and a member of York Optimists Club for many years. I was also an owner and agent for the Fillman Insurance Agency for 26 years, serving insurance needs for rural and town members of York and surrounding counties as part of a third generation family owned business. I continue to work as a seasonal full time worker for the City of York, keeping York beautiful by mowing and caring for the parks and city roadsides. I appreciate your vote to retain me as York County Commissioner in the upcoming election. I feel that my experience and service to York County in the past, and the things that I have already learned and accomplished as a York County Commissioner make me qualified to continue to serve. For questions about the election process, stop by the Election Office at the York County Courthouse at 501 N Lincoln Ave, York NE 68467, call County Clerk Mary Melby at 402-362-7759, extension 5, email to elections@yorkcountyne.gov or go to the website at yorkcounty.ne.gov. [5] |
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Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Nebraska
No specific grounds are required for recall in Nebraska.[6] The number of signatures required to put the recall on the ballot depends on the office type. A majority of offices require signatures equal to 35% of the total vote cast for that office in the last general election.[7] Petition signatures must be filed within 30 days of the filing clerk issuing the petitions.[8]
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
- Ballotpedia's Recall Report
- York County, Nebraska
- Recall campaigns in Nebraska
- Political recall efforts, 2025
- County commission recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 York County, Nebraska, "Resident files recall petition against York County Commissioner," July 11, 2025
- ↑ Nebraska Now, "York County clerk approves recall petition gunning for Commissioner LeRoy Ott," September 5, 2025
- ↑ Just Melanie W, "Dec. 9 set as special election date in commissioner recall issue," September 17, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 York County, Nebraska, "Petitioner, commissioner provide statements regarding upcoming recall election," September 17, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "Nebraska Revised Statute 32-1304," accessed May 27, 2021
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "Nebraska Revised Statute 32-1303," accessed October 16, 2023
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "Nebraska Revised Statute 32-1305," accessed October 16, 2023
