Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
Village council recall, Sand Lake, Michigan (2021-2022)
| Sand Lake village council recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
Mollie Doerr |
| Recall status |
Did not go to a vote (Doerr) |
| Recall election date |
| November 2, 2021 |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2022 Recalls in Michigan Michigan recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
An election to recall Village Trustee Rachel Gokey was held on November 2, 2021, in Sand Lake, Michigan.[1][2] Voters approved the recall, electing Jack Christensen to the seat by a margin of 75% to 25%.[3]
Two additional, separate recall campaigns did not qualify for the May 2022 ballot after organizers failed to submit signatures by the deadline of January 28, 2022.[4] The first campaign was aimed at recalling Trustees Marcia Helton and Stacy Rudicil.[5] The second campaign was aimed at recalling Village Board President Mollie Doerr.[6]
Recall vote
General election
Special general election for Sand Lake Village Board of Trustees At-large
Jack Christensen defeated incumbent Rachel Gokey in the special general election for Sand Lake Village Board of Trustees At-large on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jack Christensen (Nonpartisan) | 75.2 | 88 | |
| Rachel Gokey (Nonpartisan) | 24.8 | 29 | ||
| Total votes: 117 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Gokey recall
Recall supporters
Resident Jack Christensen initiated the recall effort.[1] The text of the recall petition appears below:
| “ |
Trustee Gokey refused to sign the social media policy that was passed by the Village Council on February 15, 2021 and is the only member of Council that has refused to sign and follow the policy; Trustee Gokey was censured by the Village Council on May 17, 2021.[7] |
” |
The council meeting minutes from February 15, 2021, can be found here. Minutes from the meeting on May 17 can be found here.
Recall opponents
Gokey gave the following statement: "I’m planning to appeal the findings of the election commission. ... However, I am fine to appear on the ballot again and talk with voters about the steps I have taken to hold the Council accountable.”[1]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Michigan
Resident Jack Christensen filed a petition with the Kent County Clerk's Office, initiating the recall process on May 24, 2021. Organizers had to collect 48 signatures, which represented 25% of the votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election. The submission deadline was July 30, 2021.[1] The recall petition was approved on August 25 and the election scheduled for November 2.[2]
The filing deadline to run in the election passed September 3, 2021.
Helton and Rudicil recall
Recall supporters
The recall was initiated by former Sand Lake Trustee Glen Baker, who offered the following grounds for the campaign against Helton:[5]
| “ |
On January 18, 2021, the governing body of the Village of Sand Lake voted to pay the Kent County Drain Commission special assessment on a 10 year payment plan so as to manage its cash flow. Contrary to the vote of the governing body, in its management of cash its affairs, Marcia Helton, consciously disregarded the official action by preparing and signing a check for payment in full ($87,253.18) of the special assessment.[7] |
” |
The recall petition against Rudicil read:Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many
| “ |
On March 25, 2021, Village Trustee Stacy Rudicil voted to terminate the DPW Supervisor’s employment contract, which created instability in the maintenance and distribution of the Village of Sand Lake’s water system. Her vote resulted in a breach of contract claim filed by the former Supervisor.[7] |
” |
Recall opponents
Helton gave the following response to the recall campaign:[5]
| “ |
In the February meeting minutes you will find the council voted to pay the Kent County Drain Commission bill to save the Village quite a bit of interest and the Village had the money to pay. The savings was over $15,000. I voted to pay the bill to save the Village interest.[7] |
” |
Rudicil commented on the recall campaign to the Cedar Springs Post, saying:[5]
| “ |
I, along with other members of the Village Council, received a report from the Village Attorney that the former DPW Director’s contract with the former Village Council was not authorized by law. Based on that, and the repeated actions of the former DPW Director, his employment with the Village was terminated. The former DPW Director’s lawsuit against the Village is groundless.[7] |
” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Michigan
The Kent County Elections Commission approved the petitions for circulation on September 7, 2021.[5]
The recall did not qualify for the May 2022 ballot after organizers failed to submit signatures by the deadline of January 28, 2022.[4]
Doerr recall
Recall supporters
Jeff Gokey initiated the recall effort against Doerr. The text of the recall petition appears below:[6]
| “ |
President Doerr violated the provisions of the Michigan election law by signing a recall petition for a trustee twice. First on July 26, 2021 as Mollie Doerr and again on July 28, 2021 as Mollie McClellan. Both signatures were rejected by Kent County.[7] |
” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Michigan
Gokey filed the recall petition language on September 29, 2021. The petition was approved for circulation in October. Organizers needed to collect 48 signatures.[6] The recall did not qualify for the May 2022 ballot after organizers failed to submit signatures by the deadline of January 28, 2022.[4]
See also
- Recall campaigns in Michigan
- Political recall efforts, 2021
- Political recall efforts, 2022
- City council recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Cedar Springs Post, "Recall petition filed for Sand Lake trustee," June 11, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cedar Springs Post, "Recall petition approved for Sand Lake trustee," August 26, 2021
- ↑ Election Reporting, "Kent County Village of Sand Lake Trustee (Partial Term)," accessed November 3, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Ballotpedia Staff, "Email communication with Kent County Clerk / Register of Deeds Office," February 7, 2022
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Cedar Springs Post, "Recalls filed against Sand Lake trustees," September 17, 2021
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Cedar Springs Post, "Recall filed for Sand Lake Village president," November 19, 2021
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
