Lynda Fairman recall, York County School Division, Virginia (2024-2025)
| York County School Division recall |
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| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
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| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2025 Recalls in Virginia Virginia recall laws School board recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Lynda Fairman from her position as the District 5 representative on the York County School Division school board in Virginia began in September 2024.[1]
Fairman was elected to a four-year term on the five-member board in November 2023.[1][2] She served as chair of the board from January 2024 until May 2024, when the board voted 3-2 to remove her from that leadership position.[3]
Recall supporters
The recall petition lists the following reasons for recall:[1]
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1. Lynda J. Fairman improperly threatened to fire the superintendent, without cause, after being fired from her position as a substitute teacher, creating a hostile work environment. 2. Lynda J. Fairman improperly removed the superintendent, without cause, from the dais, at Fairman’s first meeting as a school board member, creating a hostile work environment. 3. Lynda J. Fairman improperly told the superintendent to record/report a school family life meeting, despite clear lack of authority to do so, in violation of state law and board policy. After being rebuffed, Fairman encouraged militia supporters to tape the family life meeting. 4. Lynda J. Fairman improperly ordered the school board attorney not to speak with the news media, despite clear lack of authority and in violation of state law and board policy. 5. Lynda J. Fairman improperly ordered the school board clerk on Mar. 20, 2024 to remove an agenda item requested by 2 members, without authority and in violation of board policy. 6. Lynda J. Fairman improperly shared information from a closed school board session with the public, despite clear lack of authority and in violation of state law and board policy. 7. Lynda J. Fairman improperly required official, sectarian prayers at board meetings. After litigation warnings, other school board members rescinded the unconstitutional practice. 8. Lynda J. Fairman improperly threatened to have the sheriff remove citizens for standing and applauding. After litigation warnings, the sheriff disavowed the unconstitutional order. 9. Lynda J. Fairman improperly signed a contract with the partisan SBMA organization on Apr. 30, 2024, despite clear lack of authority and in violation of state law and board policy. 10. Lynda J. Fairman improperly colluded with the partisan SBMA organization to threaten fellow school board member Kimberly S. Goodwin that “if she did not vote the way that the SBMA wanted her to, and support Fairman [in the upcoming vote to remove her as chair], that Goodwin would no longer receive support from the SBMA,” in violation of York County policies and laws prohibiting SBMA from threatening members regarding their public votes.[4] |
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Recall opponents
Fairman had not responded to the recall effort against her as of September 25, 2024.[1]
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.[5] 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.[6]
To advance the recall effort against Fairman through the court system, recall supporters must collect 285 signatures from registered voters in the school district's District 5.[1]
2025 recall efforts
- See also: School board recalls
Ballotpedia has tracked 20 school board recall efforts against 41 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. Recall elections are also being held on November 4, 2025.
The chart below details the status of 2025 recall efforts by individual school board member.
2024 recall efforts
- See also: School board recalls
Ballotpedia tracked 40 school board recall efforts against 83 board members in 2024. Recall elections in 2024 removed 14 members from office, including three who resigned before the election, and retained seven members in office. The school board recall success rate was 13.4%.
The chart below details the status of 2024 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 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 School Division, Virginia
- York County School Division, Virginia, elections
- Recall campaigns in Virginia
- Political recall efforts, 2025
- Political recall efforts, 2024
- School board recalls
- States that allow school board recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Wavy.com, "Recall petition seeks to oust controversial York County School Board member," September 23, 2024
- ↑ York County School Division, "School Board," accessed September 25, 2024
- ↑ Wavy.com, "York County School Board removes controversial right-wing board chair," May 28, 2024
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 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
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