Tye Menser recall, Thurston County, Washington (2020)
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| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2020 Recalls in Washington Washington recall laws County commission recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Tye Menser from his position on the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners in Washington did not go to a vote in 2020. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Grant Blinn ruled that the recall petition was legally and factually insufficient to move forward.[1]
Recall supporters
The recall effort was started by Jon Pettit, who alleged that "Menser committed malfeasance, misfeasance, and violated the oath of office," according to The Olympian.[1]
According to The Olympian, the recall petition said that Menser "exceeded his legislative authority by voting to cut spending after the board had already set property tax levies" and "exceeded legal authority by reducing line-item spending controlled by separately elected officials."[1]
Pettit said the recall effort was not personal. “I want this to be clear: This is not a personal matter,” Pettit said. “There is no political element involved.”[1]
Recall opponents
Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Elizabeth Petrich said that Menser's votes on the matters brought up in the recall petition were discretionary actions by the board. She said that discretionary actions could not be a basis for recall unless they were done in a manifestly unreasonable manner. She said the recall petition did not show that they were unreasonable.[1]
Petrich also said that as a member of a board, Menser was not authorized to make these decisions as an individual. She said that he could not be recalled for failure to perform a duty he's not authorized to perform.[1]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Washington
The recall effort began on August 10, 2020, when Jon Pettit filed the paperwork with the Thurston County Auditor. On September 8, 2020, Pierce County Superior Court Judge Grant Blinn ruled that the recall petition was legally and factually insufficient to move forward.[1]
If the recall petition had been approved, recall supporters would have needed to collect 28,850 signatures to get the recall on the ballot.[1]
See also
- Thurston County, Washington
- Recall campaigns in Washington
- Political recall efforts, 2020
- County commission recalls
External links
Footnotes
