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Michael Cockerill recall, White River Township, Michigan (2023)
| Michael Cockerill recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Recall election date |
| November 7, 2023 |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2023 Recalls in Michigan Michigan recall laws Mayoral recalls Recall reports |
An election to recall Supervisor Michael Cockerill was held on November 7, 2023, in White River Township, Michigan.[1] Cockerill was removed from his position as supervisor as a result of the recall vote.[2]
Ballotpedia covered recall elections against 35 officials on November 7, 2023. Click here to read more about the other recall elections on the ballot.
Recall vote
General election
Special general election for White River Township Supervisor
Ron Bailey defeated incumbent Michael Cockerill in the special general election for White River Township Supervisor on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ron Bailey (Independent) | 76.5 | 491 | |
| Michael Cockerill (R) | 23.5 | 151 | ||
| Total votes: 642 | |||
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Recall supporters
The recall effort was organized by White River Township resident Dave Pickard. Petitions stated the following as reasons for recalling Cockerill.[1]
| “ |
Prior to his 2020 re-election Cockerill conspired with others to form Lakeside Solar LLC to bring a massive solar panel project to the Township, representing substantial financial benefits to all founders. In violation of Michigan Ethics Act MCL 15.341 he kept this secret until late 2022. As Supervisor he continues to conduct township business presiding at Board meetings, with access to all Planning and Zoning activities without disclosing his financial interest. His involvement has never been formally disclosed to the public nor did he recuse himself over his first two years in office.[3] |
” |
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 "factual" and "clear;" that is the only criteria considered by the board to approve or reject the petition.
Once approved by the board, the petitioner must amass a number of signatures equal to 25 percent of the number of votes cast in the last general election in the electoral district of the officer sought to be recalled.[4] 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 recall of 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.
Pickard filed the recall petitions on March 22, 2023. The Muskegon County Election Commission approved petitions for circulation on April 3, 2023. Petitioners had a deadline of September 30, 2023, to submit 219 signatures to put the recall on the ballot.[1][5]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 White Lake Beacon, "Recall petition targeting White River Twp. supervisor goes forward," April 4, 2023
- ↑ MLive, "Muskegon County election results for Nov. 7, 2023," November 8, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Michigan Legislature, "Michigan Compiled Laws Section 168.955," accessed February 16, 2016
- ↑ MLive, "Solar power plan prompts recall attempt on township supervisor in Muskegon County," April 9, 2023
