Vanessa Alvarado recall, Reading, Massachusetts (2020)
| Reading Select Board recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Recall election date |
| September 1, 2020 |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2020 Recalls in Massachusetts Massachusetts recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
An effort in Reading, Massachusetts, to recall Reading Select Board Member Vanessa Alvarado was initiated in February 2020.[1] In March 2020, the Reading Board of Registrars certified that petitioners collected enough signatures to put the recall on the ballot and notified the members of the Reading Select Board on April 1.[2] The special recall election was held on September 1, 2020, and Alvarado retained her seat.[3][4]
Supporters of the recall alleged that Vanessa Alvarado unreasonably stalled the hiring of a new police chief in contravention of the town charter.[5] Recall opponents, including Alvarado herself, argued that she was trying to provide open, public discussion about the police chief's appointment and took no actions that violated the town charter.[6]
Recall vote
The recall election was scheduled for September 1, 2020, the same day as Massachusetts' statewide primary election.[7] Vanessa Alvarado retained her seat on the board by a vote of 5,641 "no" votes to 3,831 "yes" votes.[4]
Yes/no recall question
Alvarado was subject to a recall election on September 1, 2020. Election results showed that Alvarado would keep her position on the Reading Select Board.[5]
Vanessa Alvarado recall, 2020
Vanessa Alvarado won the Reading Select Board recall election on September 1, 2020.
Recall Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
Yes |
40.5
|
3,879 | |||
| ✔ | No |
59.5
|
5,693 | ||
Total Votes |
9,572 | ||||
|
|
Replacement question
John Halsey was the one candidate who filed to replace Alvarado if her recall was approved by voters.[8] Because Alvarado retained her seat, the replacement question was moot.
Recall supporters
The recall effort was led by John Arena, a former Reading Select Board member who lost to Alvarado in the 2018 election, over Alvarado's alleged efforts to impede the hiring of a new police chief in her role as Reading Select Board chairperson.[5]
Recall petition
Recall opponents
Vanessa Alvarado issued a personal statement regarding the recall on her official Facebook page.[6] Recall opponents also set up a website, Neighbors United Against the Recall, where Alvarado posted both written and video statements responding to the allegations against her.[9]
Statement by Vanessa Alvarado
| “ |
My name is Vanessa Alvarado. I am a mom to two young kids, the wife of a Marine veteran, a working professional and a town volunteer serving on the Select Board. I am not a professional politician. I am your neighbor. I moved to Reading ten years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter. My husband was about to return to school full-time thanks to the GI Bill. After three decades of living in cities, we decided to settle down and raise children in this kind and friendly town. When my son was born a few years later, I decided I wanted to get more involved in the community I’d grown to love and that had welcomed us so warmly. I found the perfect spot for my skills and interests on the Finance Committee, where I served for four years. With this understanding of the role of local government, and hearing from many residents that they desired new voices in elected office, I decided to run for the Select Board. These decisions would end up changing the direction of my life in town in ways I’d never imagined. On Memorial Day, I had the privilege of commemorating those residents lost to war and the families they left behind. I spoke to a Girl Scout troop about what it means to be a local elected official. I have put in motion efforts to improve sustainability, improve communication with residents, address downtown parking issues, involve residents more actively in major town decisions, and encourage people to join our many boards, committees and commissions. I have met wonderful people I never would have had the joy of knowing if I hadn’t joined the Select Board. It has truly been one of the most uplifting and affirming experiences of my life. That is, until a recall effort was initiated against me because someone questioned how I managed a process. Our Charter calls for the Select Board to vote to confirm only two positions appointed by the Town Manager: the Police Chief and the Fire Chief. I strongly believe the intent is not for those votes to merely be a rubber stamp. The intent is to ensure that elected officials, as representatives of the town’s citizens, play a role in appointments to these critical public safety positions. All of the actions I took in the last six months were out of a desire to create an open and public discussion of our priorities in identifying our next police chief, fully consistent with the important role the Charter carves out for the Select Board. I never anticipated needing an attorney to defend myself against a petition to recall my position amid allegations of wrongdoing. Allegations of violating the Town Charter, something I took an oath to uphold. I never anticipated being subjected to such intense hatred and vitriol on social media by some of my own neighbors. I never anticipated needing to warn my children that they may hear people saying derogatory things about their mother or our family. I never anticipated needing to explain to my employer that I was about to make the Boston news circuit for the volunteer work I do on my own time. And yet these issues pale in comparison to those now faced by neighbors in Reading, across the Commonwealth and the country. As elected leaders, we are concentrating on the challenges to our health, our children’s education and the effect on our economy brought on by this pandemic. This is the true work of our local government. You see, we are a local government composed entirely of volunteers. Yet who among us, watching what has unfolded in the last months, will risk themselves, their families and their livelihoods to do the work of this town? This is not the price any volunteer should have to pay for their public service. I know this last month is not an accurate reflection of the Reading I call home. I will not allow the actions of a few to overshadow the love and kindness of the many. I believe we are a community of people who care and support one another during difficult times. We are a community that believes in civil discourse. I ran for local office because I believe in the mission of the Select Board. I am committed to the oath I took and am dedicated to the truth. I am humbled and honored to have been elected by the voters of Reading to serve this community. Now Reading volunteers need your support and your vote. A special election may be coming that could send a chilling message to anyone who volunteers for our town: Do exactly what we want, how we want it, or we'll make life in this town miserable for you. But I have faith in Reading. Reading neighbors who understand that we can disagree with someone, have a discussion about it, and then decide whether or not to vote for them when their term is up (I’m up for reelection in just a year). We don’t need to wage a war on volunteers. There are various factors that will influence if and when a recall election will take place. Should that time come, I would ask you to support our local government and the many wonderful people who make our town the inviting and welcoming place it is. Please help me continue to serve our community. Your vote matters; protect our volunteers by voting against the recall. |
” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Massachusetts
The Town of Reading charter required petitioners to obtain the signatures of 10% of registered voters in order to put the recall on the ballot. On March 18, 2020, the town's board of registrars certified 2,239 signatures, which exceeded the 10% threshold. The Reading Select Board was notified of the certification on March 19 and subsequently sent a notice to Alvarado. The board was required by law to schedule a special recall election between 64 and 90 days from the time it received the notice of certification.[1][2]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Town of Reading, Massachusetts, "Recall Information," accessed June 9, 2020
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Reading Post, "Recall Petition Certified," March 19, 2020
- ↑ Daily Times Chronicle, "Select Board sets recall election for Sept. 1," June 8, 2020
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Reading Post, "Alvarado to Remain on Select Board," September 2, 2020
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Town of Reading, "Petition for Recall of Elected Officer," accessed June 9, 2020
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Vanessa Alvarado - Select Board Facebook, "Personal Statement from Vanessa Alvarado," accessed June 9, 2020
- ↑ Town of Reading, "Election and Town Meeting Calendar for 2020," accessed July 21, 2020
- ↑ Town of Reading, "Recall Election Sample Ballot," accessed August 31, 2020
- ↑ Neighbors United Against the Recall, "Home," accessed July 21, 2020
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
