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Les Johnson recall, Ludington, Michigan (2023)
| Les Johnson recall |
|---|
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| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2023 Recalls in Michigan Michigan recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall City Councilman Les Johnson did not go to a vote in Ludington, Michigan, after Johnson was appointed to the Mason County Board of Commissioners and resigned from his position on the city council.[1][2]
Recall supporters
Tom Rotta, a resident of Ludington, submitted language to recall Johnson for approval on July 18, 2023. In the petition, Rotta said, “Johnson voted for several ordinances raising taxes on city property owners by about $300,000 (city estimation) yearly. He would say after his votes that if they had not passed the tax increases, citizens would not have garbage pickup, a police department, and a ‘lot of other services.’ Truly, if the increases weren’t passed, the city’s property tax revenue would grow by the inflation rate, plus new construction taxes. No services were slated to be lost.”[1]
Recall opponents
Following a clarity and factual hearing held by the Mason County Election Commission during which the petition language was approved, Johnson said, “I definitely was disappointed in the way they voted. It’s frustrating for me because I’m just trying to do my job and do it to the best of my ability and for the best for the people in the community."[3]
Johnson has indicated his intent to appeal the approval of the petition.[4]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Michigan
A recall petition must first be filed with the appropriate board, which then holds a hearing to determine whether the reason for the petition is clear and factual.
If approved by the board, the petitioner must collect a number of signatures equal to 25% of the number of votes cast for the office of governor in the last general election in the electoral district of the officer sought to be recalled.[5] The petitioner has 60 days to collect these signatures beginning on the date the first signature is collected; however, the petition must be submitted no later than 180 days after it was approved by the board. For state officials, the petition is submitted to the Michigan Secretary of State; for local officials, the petition is submitted to the county or township clerk in the county where the official resides.
The Mason County Election Commission was scheduled to hold a clarity and factual hearing on August 4, 2023. The language was approved.[1][3]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ludington Daily News, "Johnson target of latest recall filing," July 19, 2023
- ↑ Ludington Daily News, "Looking back at notable moments around Mason County in 2023," December 18, 2023
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ludington Daily News, "Recall petition approved against Johnson," August 4, 2023
- ↑ Ludington Daily News, "Johnson vows to appeal recall, Terzano comments on housing needs," August 14, 2023
- ↑ Michigan Legislature, "Michigan Compiled Laws Section 168.955," accessed February 16, 2016
