Town council recall, Narragansett, Rhode Island (2025)
| Town council recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
James Durkin Donna Vignali Alexander Menzies Ryan Torrealday |
| Recall status |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2025 Recalls in Rhode Island Rhode Island recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Jason Colonies, James Durkin, Donna Vignali, Alexander Menzies, and Ryan Torrealday from their positions on the Narragansett Town Council in Rhode Island is underway.[1]
An initial effort to recall Colonies, Durkin, and Vignali did not go to a vote. The recall petitions were deemed invalid because the council members had been in office for less than six months when they were filed.[2][3]
Recall supporters
Narragansett resident Gail Scowcroft is organizing the recall effort. The initial recall petitions filed by Scowcroft gave "proposed changes to or eliminations of 13 zoning ordinances and a change to the Town of Narragansett Comprehensive plan" as the reason for the recall effort.[2]
Scowcroft filed the second set of recall petitions on August 20, 2025. Regarding proposed changes to Narragansett's zoning regulations, Scowcroft wrote in one of the petitions, "These proposals overwhelmingly benefit landlords, investors, and developers at the expense of residents and the long-term character of Narragansett. If enacted, they will increase density, diminish opportunities for affordable and attainable housing, and directly conflict with the Town's Comprehensive Plan." She has also alleged conflicts of interest, that the council violated the Open Meetings Act, and that the council has not listened to Narragansett's planning board.[1]
Recall opponents
Colonies and Vignali did not respond to a request for comment from The Independent. Regarding the initial recall effort, Durkin said in part, "We’re still in the public hearing process, and we’re actively encouraging residents to participate. This recall effort is not only misleading — it’s premature. We’re not pushing radical change." He also said, "This recall isn’t about protecting Narragansett — it’s about protecting control. But we were elected to represent everyone, not just a few — and I intend to keep doing that."[2][4]
Menzies has said, "I agree with a system of checks and balances, but it has to be done right. I don’t believe a recall petition should be filed just because someone disagrees with something another one said or disagrees with how someone votes. That is and should be determined by voters on Election Day."[1]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Rhode Island
Rhode Island allows the following grounds for recall: "Recall is authorized in the case of a general officer who has been indicted or informed against for a felony, convicted of a misdemeanor, or against whom a finding of probable cause of violation of the code of ethics has been made by the ethics commission."[5] The recall of local officials in Rhode Island is governed by local charters. Because of this, recall laws regarding signature requirements and circulation time vary by locality.[6]
According to the Narragansett Code of Ordinances, "The recall petition shall be signed by at least twenty-five (25%) percent of the electors who voted in the last general election prior to the date that the Town Clerk issued the petition blanks. The petitioners shall have sixty (60) days from the date of issue to collect the required signatures and file the completed petition with the Town Clerk."[7]
Recall context
- See also: Ballotpedia's Recall Report
Ballotpedia covers recall efforts across the country for all state and local elected offices. A recall effort is considered official if the petitioning party has filed an official form, such as a notice of intent to recall, with the relevant election agency.
The chart below shows how many officials were included in recall efforts from 2012 to 2024 as well as how many of them defeated recall elections to stay in office and how many were removed from office in recall elections.
See also
- Ballotpedia's Recall Report
- Narragansett, Rhode Island
- Recall campaigns in Rhode Island
- Political recall efforts, 2025
- City council recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Providence Journal, "Narragansett Town Council recall effort renewed. Does it set a 'dangerous precedent'?" August 27, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 RICentral.com, "Recall floated for Council trio over zoning changes," accessed June 2, 2025
- ↑ Ballotpedia staff, "Email communication with Narragansett Town Clerk Sarah Masson," August 18, 2025
- ↑ The Independent, "Local resident seeks recall of Narragansett Town Council trio over zoning changes," May 16 2025
- ↑ Constitution of the State of Rhode Island, "Article IV, Section 1," accessed October 16, 2023
- ↑ The Narragansett Times, "Town approves voter recall provision," March 23, 2019
- ↑ Narragansett Code of Ordinances, "Sec. 1-4-7. - Recall." accessed June 2, 2025
