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Sandra Breymaier recall, Newton Falls, Ohio (2021)
| Newton Falls City Council recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Recall election date |
| July 27, 2021 |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2021 Recalls in Ohio Ohio recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
Voters chose to remove Councilwoman Sandra Breymaier in a recall election held July 27, 2021, in Newton Falls, Ohio.[1]
The recall election was originally scheduled for June 1, 2021. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled on May 27 that the election could not proceed because a majority of the city council did not vote to approve the election date.[2][3][4]
Recall organizers said they were trying to remove Breymaier because she had acted unprofessionally.[5] Breymaier, who is a Democrat, said that the recall effort was designed to replace her with a Republican.[6]
Recall vote
The recall election took place on July 27, 2021. The election was originally scheduled for June 1, but Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the election could not proceed on that date.[4]
Sandra Breymaier recall, 2021
Sandra Breymaier lost the Newton Falls City Council Ward 4 recall election on July 27, 2021.
Recall Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✖ | Yes |
90.2
|
110 | ||
No |
9.8
|
12 | |||
Total Votes |
122 | ||||
|
|
Recall supporters
The recall organizers, led by Christopher Granchie, said that they supported removing Breymaier because she had acted unprofessionally.[5] Granchie issued a statement on his Facebook page in response to a WFMJ article on the recall effort, which can be found here.
| “ |
I'd like to speak on this article. Mayor Kline had absolutely nothing to do with this recall. He declined to sign the recall or even my petition for candidacy. Ms. Breymaier states that "he wants a Republican in my seat," yet I am still a registered Democrat, though I identify as politically independent and will run as such. So this, as well, is an outright lie. Ms. Breymaier goes on to ask, “Is it because I’m a woman and a Democrat? I just don’t know.” No, ma'am. This is because of your unprofessionalism. This is because of your voting record. This is because of your utter apathy toward your elected position. You received 155 votes into office, and 211 people signed a petition to remove you. That translates to 136% of the people who elected you do not want you to represent them anymore. This statement is yet another slap in the face to the people you "represent." The people can think for themselves, without anybody telling them how to think, despite your self-loathing attempts to say differently. This recall is nobody's fault but your own. 4th Ward, I've said this before, and I will say it again. You deserve better. You deserve accountability. You deserve transparency. And most of all, you deserve the representation that we have been so sorely lacking for the past year. With your vote, I promise to bring you all of this back. You will have a voice in Village decisions again. You will know what is going on in your community. You will once again have a representative who can listen without defending and speak without offending. Every citizen deserves this. And with your help, I intend to bring this to you. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to message me. My inbox is open to you.[7][8] |
” |
Recall opponents
Breymaier, who is a Democrat, said that the recall effort was designed to help a Republican replace her on the council. Vacancies on the council are filled by special election.[5][6] Breymaier said, "It’s Mayor (Ken) Kline. ... He’s a Republican, I’m a Democrat and a swing vote, and he wants a Republican in my seat."[6]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Ohio
According to the Ordinances of Newton Falls, "the petition for recall of a councilman elected from a ward shall be signed by at least that number of electors of the councilman's ward equal to fifty-one percent (51%) in number of the electors of such ward who voted at the last preceding regular municipal election."[9] In this case, that number was 135 signatures. Recall organizers submitted 211 signatures to the city clerk on March 8, 2021.[5]
On May 10, 2021, the council voted 2-1 to schedule the election for June 1, with Breymaier abstaining. As Councilman Tarry Alberini resigned in May 2021, there was one vacancy on the five-member council at the time of the vote.[3][10][4]
Village Law Director A. Joseph Fritz, Clerk of Council Kathy King, and Breymaier filed a lawsuit challenging the June 1 election date. They argued that the recall election could not officially be scheduled for June 1 because a majority of the city council did not vote to approve that date. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled in their favor on May 27, 2021, canceling the election on that date.[3]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Mahoning Matters, "Voters oust Newton Falls Councilwoman Sandra Breymaier in recall election," July 27, 2021
- ↑ WKBN, "Recall election date set for Newton Falls councilperson during special meeting," May 10, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 21WFMJ, "Ohio Supreme Court to rule on Newton Falls recall election," May 18, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 WKBN 27, "Court rules no recall election for Newton Falls councilwoman," May 27, 2021
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 WKBN First News, "Petition submitted to recall Newton Falls councilwoman," March 8, 2021
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 21WFMJ, "Breymaier claims Newton Falls mayor behind recall," March 10, 2021
- ↑ Facebook, "Granchie for 4th Ward," March 10, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ American Legal Publishing Corporation, "Codified Ordinances of the City of Newton Falls, Ohio, Article VII, Sect. 4," accessed March 11, 2021
- ↑ Tribune Chronicle, "Falls councilman submits resignation," May 5, 2021
