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Rusty Rhynalds and Justin Glanzer recall, Minden Public Schools, Nebraska (2021)
| Minden Public Schools recall |
|---|
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| Officeholders |
Justin Glanzer |
| Recall status |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2021 Recalls in Nebraska Nebraska recall laws School board recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall two of the five members of the Minden Public Schools Board of Education in Nebraska did not go to a vote in 2021. Recall supporters did not submit recall petitions by the deadline on July 12, 2021.[1]
The recall effort began in May 2021. Board President Rusty Rhynalds and board Vice President Justin Glanzer were named in the recall notices. Recall supporters had 30 days to collect 570 signatures per board member.[2][3]
The reasons listed for recall included proposing a mask mandate, approving a resolution to remove a fellow board member from office, not spending money on band uniforms, and a possible conflict of interest related to Rhynalds' business.[2]
In response to the recall, Rhynalds said he was not sure what he was being accused of. "On another note, I am thankful for the success Minden Public Schools had with students this year and I am thankful we were able to be in school the entire school year," Rhynalds said.[2]
To read about other recall efforts related to the coronavirus and government responses to the pandemic, click here.
Recall supporters
The recall effort was started by Candice Lantis. Her reasons for the recall include “proposing a mask mandate in a non-mandated town in a public forum,” infringing on medical rights, and approving a resolution to remove a fellow board member from office, according to the Kearney Hub.[2]
Lantis also said she was concerned about the school district spending money on sports uniforms and security systems but not on band uniforms. “I do not know these people personally. I do not have a vendetta against them,” Lantis said. “It’s about principle for me. What is right is right to me.”[2]
In the recall against Rhynalds, Lantis expressed concern about a possible conflict of interest with his business Rhynalds Auction & Realty. In 2018, his firm was used for a public auction for items from a former school building. Rhynalds Auction & Realty did not charge for the service, and Rhynalds abstained from the vote on the issue. Lantis questioned why the board did not hire a company that would have benefited from getting paid.[2]
Recall opponents
In response to the recall effort, the board members said the recall petition did not contain accurate information.[3]
Rhynalds issued the following statement:[2]
| “ | I have never had the opportunity to visit with or meet Mrs. Lantis. From her reason to recall petition form — I am unsure exactly what she is accusing me of.
As of late, I have heard rumors that the Board isn’t willing to support the band with the purchase of new uniforms; that couldn’t be farther from the truth. In my eight years of being on the school board, band uniforms has NEVER been on the agenda for the board to consider. I have never seen a plan (quantity or costs) for band uniforms. What I do know is MPS will have a new band director this coming school year which we all are excited about. I look forward to his leadership, and hearing all about his plan and needs. I support ALL programs at MPS! On another note, I am thankful for the success Minden Public Schools had with students this year and I am thankful we were able to be in school the entire school year. I believe in rules and the need to follow them. If this is about the potential Nebraska Department of Education new Health Standards, I do NOT SUPPORT this potential curriculum or any part of it. As I have the entire eight years I’ve served on the BOE, I welcome the opportunity to speak with any person in our school district regarding any school business.[4] |
” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Nebraska
Recall supporters filed initial recall paperwork with the Kearney County Clerk's Office on May 19, 2021.[5] To get the recall on the ballot, recall supporters would have had to collect 570 signatures per board member in 30 days. The petition submission deadline was July 12, 2021.[1][2][3][6]
Ballotpedia covered 35 coronavirus-related recall efforts against 94 officials in 2022, accounting for 13% of recalls that year. This is a decrease from both 2020 and 2021. COVID-related recalls accounted for 37% of all recall efforts in both 2020 and 2021. In 2020, there were 87 COVID-related recalls against 89 officials, and in 2021, there were 131 against 214 officials.
The chart below compares coronavirus-related recalls to recalls for all other reasons in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
2021 recall efforts
- See also: School board recalls
Ballotpedia tracked 92 school board recall efforts against 237 board members in 2021. Recall elections against 17 board members were held in 2021. The school board recall success rate was 0.42%.
The chart below details the status of 2021 recall efforts by individual school board member.
See also
- Minden Public Schools, Nebraska
- Recall campaigns in Nebraska
- Political recall efforts, 2021
- School board recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 NTV News, "Minden School Board recall fails," July 13, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Kearney Hub, "Minden woman citing multiple reasons to recall two school board members," May 27, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Fox Nebraska, "Minden School Board recall effort underway, people backing board ask for support," June 14, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ The Minden Courier, "Minden Community Divided By Request For School Board Recall," June 1, 2021
- ↑ Nebraska TV, "Efforts being made to recall two Minden Public Schools Board members," May 21, 2021
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