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Stan Keeler, Lyle Jeffries and Dale Stutzman recall, Winston-Dillard, Oregon (2012)
| Winston-Dillard Fire Board of Directors recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
Lyle Jeffries Dale Stutzman |
| Recall status |
| Recall election date |
| March 8, 2012 |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2012 Recalls in Oregon Oregon recall laws Special district recalls Recall reports |
A vote about whether to recall Stan Keller, Lyle Jeffries, and Dale Stuzman from their positions on the Winston-Dillard Fire Board of Directors in Douglas County, Oregon, took place on March 8th, 2012.[1] All three officials were recalled.[2] The recall effort was launched in January 2012.[3]
Reasons for recall
A group called Fully Involved Recall Effort (FIRE) was behind the recall effort. Bruce Justis, a former Winston police chief, was the group's spokesperson.[4] Recall organizers accused the targeted officials of failing to listen to residents' input regarding the department's budget issues. The recall targets were also accused of failing to adjust expenditures in light of a budget shortfall, failing to release public records regarding fire district salaries, failing to reduce administration staff rather than firefighting personnel, and failing to conduct a requested independent study to maximize tax dollars for the fire service.[5]
Recall targets respond
Stutzman said the charges leveled against him and his fellow board members are “total fabrications.” Of the recall effort, Keeler said, "I'm going to fight it. We're doing the best we can with the funding we have.” Jeffries said, “I think I'm doing what's right and what's right for the district, and I'm not going to back off.”[4]
Path to the ballot
Recall petitions began circulating in mid-January 2012. 385 signatures would have been needed to force a recall election, but recall organizers submitted more than 500 signatures. Enough signatures to force an election were verified, so recall targets were given five days to resign or submit a "Statement of Justification" stating why they should not be recalled. On February 6, all three recall targets submitted such statements, meaning that a special recall election had to take place within 35 days.[6] The recall election was scheduled for March 8th, 2012.[1]
Election results
- Votes to recall Stan Keeler: 1,178
- Votes to retain Stan Keeler: 296
- Votes to recall Lyle Jeffries: 1,152
- Votes to retain Lyle Jeffries: 325
- Votes to recall Dale Stuzman: 1,172
- Votes to retain Dale Stuzman: 305
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 KEZI, "Recall Ballots Sent to Douglas County Voters," February 22, 2012
- ↑ KPIC.com, "Winston Fire Board members recalled," March 8, 2012
- ↑ KPIC.com, "Signatures verified, recall election could happen soon," January 30, 2012
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The News-Review, "W-D Fire District critics force recall election," January 31, 2012
- ↑ KPIC.com, "Winston-Dillard Fire District Board Members Face Possible Recall," January 16, 2012
- ↑ KPIC.com, "Winston-Dillard Fire Board recall election moving forward," February 6, 2012
