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Wes Bellamy recall, Charlottesville, Virginia (2017)
| Charlottesville Vice Mayor recall |
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| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2017 Recalls in Virginia Virginia recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
An effort in Charlottesville, Virginia, to recall Vice Mayor Wes Bellamy from his position was launched in February 2017. On February 16, 2017, Jason Kessler announced that he submitted enough signatures to the circuit court to force a recall hearing.[1][2] In March 2017, Judge Richard Moore dismissed Kessler's petition due to a lack of sufficient signatures.[3]
Recall supporters
Kessler pursued the recall of Bellamy due to allegations of racially offensive social media posts. During his February 16 press conference, Kessler said, "Wes Bellamy said white women are the devil. If a white man had said that black women were the devil, he'd be gone."[1]
Kessler also wanted Bellamy recalled because of his support for removing a statue of General Robert E. Lee from Lee Park. On February 6, 2017, the Charlottesville City Council voted 3-2 to move the statue and voted unanimously to rename the park.[4]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Virginia
Kessler's petition requested a special prosecutor to investigate Bellamy's actions in office.[1] Code § 24.2-233 states acceptable reasons for recall including neglect of duty, misuse of office, and incompetence in the performance of office. A recall may also take place due to a conviction for a misdemeanor relating to drugs or a conviction for a misdemeanor involving a hate crime.[5]
The petition for recall must be signed by at least 10 percent of the number of people who voted in the last election for the office being recalled.[5] The petition must also detail the reasons for removal.[6]
A successful recall petition in Virginia leads to a judicial hearing rather than an election. The targeted official receives notice of the trial and has the right to demand a trial by jury. The results of the trial may be appealed to the Supreme Court of Virginia.[7][8]
Recent news
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See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 CBS 19, "Kessler files petition to recall Vice Mayor Wes Bellamy from City Council," February 16, 2017
- ↑ CBS 19, "Recall Bellamy petition comes to Charlottesville court," February 23, 2017
- ↑ NBC 29, "Charlottesville Judge Dismisses Petition to Remove Bellamy from Office," March 8, 2017
- ↑ WDBJ, "Robert E. Lee statue to be removed from Charlottesville park," February 7, 2017
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Code of Virginia, "§ 24.2-233," accessed July 17, 2013
- ↑ Code of Virginia, "§ 24.2-235," accessed July 17, 2013
- ↑ Code of Virginia, "§ 24.2-236," accessed July 17, 2013
- ↑ Code of Virginia, "§ 24.2-237," accessed July 17, 2013
