Tye Menser recall, Thurston County, Washington (2022)
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An effort to recall Tye Menser from his position as the District 3 representative on the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners did not go to a vote in 2022. A superior court judge ruled that the five charges listed on the recall petition “lacked both factual and legal sufficiency” to move forward.[1]
The recall effort began in January 2022. Jon Pettit filed the recall paperwork against Menser, alleging the commissioner had mismanaged the board when he served as chair in 2021. Menser called the charges listed in the recall petition baseless and frustrating.[1][2]
Menser's term on the three-member board was scheduled to end in December 2022.[2]
Pettit also filed recall paperwork against Menser in 2020. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Grant Blinn ruled that the recall petition was legally and factually insufficient to move forward.[3] Click here to read more about that effort.
Recall supporters
In his complaint filed with the Thurston County Auditor's Office, Pettit alleged that Menser "committed malfeasance, misfeasance, and violated the oath of office," according to The Olympian. The complaint also alleged that the board failed to follow a state law that requires minutes to be provided for all meetings, that the county withheld records of proceedings from the public, that the board misappropriated public funds, and that the board failed to schedule a sufficient number of public meetings.[2]
“I believe there is a strong foundation for approving the recall to go forward,” Pettit said. “I intend to pursue it completely including a full campaign effort at such time that it would be approved.”[2]
Recall opponents
Menser called the recall petition charges baseless and frustrating. “The things that hit the court are just the tip of the iceberg,” Menser said. “We get dozens and dozens and dozens of allegations of illegality and threats of lawsuits from Mr. Pettit. … There’s no merit to any of them. I’m just hopeful he gets the message that this needs to stop. It’s wasting a lot of taxpayer dollars to respond to.”[1]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Washington
Pettit filed his recall complaint with the Thurston County Auditor's Office on January 7, 2022. A superior court judge had to rule on the recall petition before it could be circulated. If the recall petition had been approved for circulation, recall supporters would have had to collect signatures equal to 25% of the votes cast for all candidates for the office in the last election to get the recall on the ballot.[2]
See also
- Thurston County, Washington
- Recall campaigns in Washington
- Political recall efforts, 2022
- County commission recalls
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Thurston County Board of County Commissioners
- Thurston County Elections
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Olympian, "Judge dismisses second recall attempt against Thurston County Commissioner Tye Menser," February 24, 2022
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 The Olympian, "Local activist launches another recall of Thurston County Commissioner Tye Menser," January 22, 2022
- ↑ The Olympian, "Judge dismisses effort to recall Thurston Commissioner Tye Menser for budget votes," September 8, 2020
