Robert Pickell recall, Genesee County, Michigan (2014)
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An effort to recall Robert Pickell from his position as sheriff of Genesee County, Michigan was launched in July 2014. The petition to recall Pickell was submitted by Nick Singelis II. Sheriff Pickell was accused of failing to investigate allegations of human trafficking by a local Shriners organization.[1]
This was the second time that Singelis had filed to recall Pickell in 2014. His first filing was in March 2014 and centered around extra pension money Pickell accidentally received from the county. Pickell repaid the county $15,000 of more than $129,000 he was given.[2] The Genesee County Board of Elections rejected the recall petition's language due to the words "alleged" and "VEBA."[3]
Pickell said he believed Singelis' attempts to recall him were "personal" and related to the county gun board's decision to revoke Singelis' concealed carry license.[3] Supporters of the recall failed to gather enough signatures for the second recall attempt. Therefore, the effort did not go to a vote.[4]
Background
Nick Singelis II filed recall petition language to recall Sheriff Robert Pickell in March 2014 and then again in July 2014.
First attempt
Singelis' first petition was related to extra pension money Pickell accidentally received from the county. The petition read, "Robert J. Pickell only paid $15,000 back to the county for alleged mistakes in the administration of his health insurance and VEBA trust charges." In March 2013, Pickell paid back $15,000 of more than $129,000 that he was accidentally given.[2] The Genesee County Board of Elections rejected the recall petition's language due to the words "alleged" and "VEBA." VEBA stands for Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association. They decided that a petition containing the word "alleged" was "not clear and arbitrary."[3]
Second attempt
Nick Singelis II filed recall petition language against Pickell again, alleging that the sheriff failed to investigate human trafficking by a local Shriners organization. Singelis said he had more evidence for his second attempt. He stated, "This time I'm going to be presenting audio evidence as well as pictures, depositions, canceled checks and phone logs. What I will bring and the evidence I will supply will go far beyond the scope that is necessary to prove that it is factual and honest."[1]
Singelis wanted the state, not the Genesee County Board of Elections, to decide whether the recall effort could move forward, because, according to Singelis, all members had a bias toward Pickell. He said, "Without going into great detail to establish each respective member(s) bias and why they are biased or may appear to be biased, I am gracefully requesting the Board of Elections members allow for another county or State of Michigan Election Division handle this hearing or allow for you to select the replacement."[1][5]
While the board was scheduled to address the petition on July 21, 2014, County Clerk-Register John Gleason discovered a state statute requiring the recall effort to be decided by the Board of State Canvassers. The statute was Michigan Election Law MCL 168.959. Gleason apologized for not knowing about the law in March, when Singelis first filed a recall petition.[5]
Pickell's response
In response to the recall petitions, Pickell said that he believed Singelis' attempts were "personal" and related to the county gun board's decision to revoke Singelis' concealed carry license. Pickell said he was "not afraid" to face a recall. He didn't believe the recall campaign could collect 100 signatures, let alone the 34,000 needed to recall him.[3]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Michigan
The petition to recall Pickell had to be approved by the Board of State Canvassers, as stated in Michigan Election Law MCL 168.959. Had it been approved by the board, recall supporters would have had 60 days to gather about 33,000 signatures from county residents.[5]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 ABC 12, "Recall petition filed against Sheriff Robert Pickell," July 22, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 MLive, "Recall petition submitted against Genesee County Sheriff Pickell," March 7, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 MLive, "Attempt to oust Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell rejected over recall language," March 24, 2014
- ↑ ThePetitionSite.com, "Recall Genesee County Sheriff Robert J. Pickell," accessed October 13, 2013
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 MLive, "Recall effort against Genesee County sheriff no longer in hands of local elections board," July 17, 2014
