Tom Luna recall, Idaho Schools Superintendent (2012)
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An effort to recall Tom Luna from his position as Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction was launched in November 2011.[1] The effort failed due to an insufficient number of signatures.[2]
Recall support arguments
A recall effort took place in 2011 but failed to make the ballot. Organizers then aimed for the November 6, 2012 ballot. The 2012 Recall Luna campaign site at that time stated, "The November 6, 2012 Idaho election will be just like Woodstock, without the music, sex, or drugs. It will be an election that people are talking about 50 years from now."[3]
The site listed three reasons for the recall:[3]
- "Mr. Luna had a hidden agenda."
- "Mr. Luna's "reforms" reflect the interests of his campaign contributors."
- "Mr. Luna ignored the vast majority of students, parents, and teachers who opposed his plans. In short, Mr. Luna has become disconnected and arrogant and should be recalled."
Tom Luna's response
In response to the recall, Luna issued a statement saying, “Students Come First has always been about reforming education so we can educate more students at a higher level with limited resources. Opponents of the laws have tried to make it personal. Reforming education has never been about me."[4]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Idaho
The signature collection period was originally set to begin April 30, 2012. However, in a letter to The Spokesman-Review, on May 13, recall leader Pete Peterson announced the starting date had been pushed back to July 3.[5] Organizers had 75 days to collect 158,000 valid signatures to put a recall on the ballot.[6]
Until April 2012, Pete Peterson, campaign manager for the 2012 Luna Recall Committee, said they would focus on new voter registration, hoping to increase the voter rolls by 5-10 percent.[7]
If enough signatures were verified, Luna would have had five business days to either resign or face a recall vote in November.[8]
Recall organizers promised to start a third effort in December 2012.[2] Luna announced that he would not seek re-election in 2014 in a press conference on January 27, 2014.[9]
Additional reading
- Idaho Reporter, "Luna says he explained reforms prior to election, talks about anti-referendum push (video)," December 16, 2011
- Idaho Statesman, "Has Students Come First hurt teacher unions in Idaho?" January 22, 2012
- Idaho Press Tribune, "Canyon County schools influenced Luna’s reforms," January 26, 2012
See also
- Political recall efforts
- Political recall efforts, 2012
- Tom Luna recall, Idaho Schools Superintendent (2011)
- Recall efforts against three Idaho officials fail to collect enough signatures
External links
- Recall Luna campaign website
- Recall Luna Facebook page
- Recall Luna campaign on Twitter
- Recall Tom Luna YouTube channel
Footnotes
- ↑ Idaho Press Tribune, "Luna recall effort will try again," December 8, 2011
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Idaho State Journal, "New effort to recall Tom Luna to kick off today," December 27, 2012
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Recall Luna, "Homepage," accessed December 9, 2011
- ↑ KIVI-TV, "Take 2: The renewed effort to recall Superintendent Tom Luna," December 28, 2011
- ↑ The Spokesman Review, "Luna recall alive, kicking," May 13, 2012
- ↑ Local News 8, "Recall Luna Campaign Restarts After Failure," December 21, 2011
- ↑ Times-News Magic Valley, "Second Luna Recall Attempt to be Streamlined, Organizers Say," December 27, 2011
- ↑ Idaho Mountain Express, "Luna recall gains second wind," January 18, 2012
- ↑ KTVB, "Luna announces he will not run for re-election," January 27, 2014
