Tom McKay recall, Lopatcong Township, New Jersey (2016)
| Lopatcong Township Mayor recall |
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| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2016 Recalls in New Jersey New Jersey recall laws Mayoral recalls Recall reports |
An effort in Lopatcong Township, New Jersey, to recall Mayor Tom McKay from his position was launched in November 2015. Recall organizers filed their intention to recall on November 20, 2015.[1] The effort did not go to a vote after organizers failed to submit enough valid signatures to force an election.[2]
Recall supporters
A recall committee led by Robert Spagna, Edmund T. Shuster, and William D. Wright cited the following reasons on the intention to recall notice:
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Since taking office in 2015, Mayor Thomas McKay has through his actions and inaction, statements and misstatements, allegations, personal attacks, dilatory tactics and dictatorial personality; eroded the Township's confidence in the Mayor's office; sexually harassed at least one Township employee and one volunteer; exposed the Township and taxpayers to unnecessary legal and financial liabilities; marginalized the Mayor's office rendering it ineffective and powerless to interact with certain Township employees and volunteers; unlawfully infringed on the rights of certain citizens; used the power of his office to advance personal agendas; impugned the reputation of certain of the Township's employees, volunteers and council members and generally failed and refused to fully, faithfully and impartially attend to the duties of his office. [3] |
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| —Committee to Recall Tom McKay (2015), [1] | ||
Response by Tom McKay
McKay issued the following response to The Express-Times in November 2015:
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I was elected mayor by the majority of Lopatcong voters to deliver on my promise to bring new skills and leadership to the township. Since Day 1 my goal has been to do the work of the taxpayer, focusing on improving the township's policies, procedures, and introducing for the first time a zero-based budget process. And as a result this year's budget delivered the smallest tax increase in over eight years. Unfortunately, instead of being provided the support and time to focus on stabilizing taxes and debt and making Lopatcong a great place for all residents, I have faced a non-stop campaign by certain political opponents to block my efforts. I am sorry that our good residents have to continue to endure this bullying behavior which threatens to impede our progress. I wish it would be different. This latest attempt for recall by my opponents may cost taxpayers as much as $50,000 and will only serve to further divide the township. I believe Lopatcong residents are tired of this behavior and can read between the political lines. I believe they want and deserve a government that truly puts them first. I have and will continue to do just that and I am honored and humbled to continue to perform my duties as mayor. [3] |
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| —Tom McKay (2015), [1] | ||
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in New Jersey
State law requires recall organizers to collect signatures equal to 25 percent of the town's eligible voters to force a recall election. These signatures had to be submitted within 160 days of the recall petition's approval by the Warren County Clerk. The county clerk handled this recall process because Town Clerk Beth Dilts was involved in a legal dispute with the mayor.[4] State law requires recall elections to be held during regularly scheduled elections.[1]
In May 2016, McKay and Warren County Clerk Pat Kolb disagreed over the timeline for the recall group's signature gathering. McKay argued that the group had to submit petitions by April 28, 2016, because the group's notification of recall in November 2015 started the 160-day timeline. Kolb countered that her approval of petition language on December 18, 2015, placed the signature deadline in June 2016 because organizers could not circulate petitions without approval.[5]
On June 6, 2016, Kolb issued a letter invalidating the petition against McKay due to an insufficient number of valid signatures. Organizers submitted 1,274 signatures to the clerk, falling short of the 1,466 signatures required to force a recall election.[2]
Recent news
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See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Express-Times, "Lopatcong Township mayor facing recall effort," November 25, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Express-Times, "Mayor on failed recall: I forgive those who 'persecuted' me," June 7, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Lehigh Valley Live, "County takes over handling of Lopatcong mayor's recall," December 18, 2015
- ↑ Lehigh Valley Live, "Mayor claims recall effort is over, but county disagrees," May 10, 2016
