Judith West recall, Crescent City, Florida (2021)
| Crescent City Commission recall |
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| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2021 Recalls in Florida Florida recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall City Commissioner Judith West did not go to a vote after a ruling from the Florida 7th Circuit Court determined that the recall process had not been correctly followed.[1][2][3]
Recall organizers alleged that West violated Florida sunshine laws by meeting virtually with the rest of the city commission, the mayor, the city manager, and the city attorney on January 14, 2021. Organizers also opposed West's vote to dissolve the Crescent City Police Department in favor of having the Putnam County Sheriff's Department provide law enforcement services to Crescent City.[3]
West told the Palatka Daily News that "she may release a statement about the recall at a later date."[3]
Recall supporters
Crescent City residents initiated the recall in response to a virtual city commission meeting on January 14, 2021. The meeting agenda can be found here, and the minutes can be found here. Organizers alleged that West violated Florida sunshine laws because the public could not attend the meeting in person.[4]
Organizers also opposed West's vote in favor of the following two motions:[5]
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Motion by Commissioner West, second by Commissioner Banks, to instruct Attorney Jay Asbury to draft an ordinance to dissolve the Crescent City Police Department. Roll call vote--motion passed by a vote of 4 to 1, with Commissioner Kane DeVitto as the dissenting vote. Motion by Commissioner West, second by Commissioner Banks, to instruct Attorney Jay Asbury and City Manager Michael Esposito to negotiate a law enforcement services contract to provide full coverage to Crescent City by the Putnam County Sheriff's Department and could include specific officers for Crescent City, current CCPD officers be given priority and the cruisers will include the Crescent City logo. Roll call vote--all ayes.[6] |
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The petition's statement of grounds for recall appears below:
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STATEMENT OF GROUNDS FOR RECALL[7] This petition is to recall Judith West, City Commissioner for the City of Crescent City, pursuant to section 100.361 – Municipal Recall, Florida Statutes, and per section 2.08 of the city of Crescent City Charter. We, the electors of the city of Crescent City, recall City Commissioner West based on Malfeasance (100.361(2)(d)(1)). On January 14th, 2021, Judith West met with Crescent City Commissioners, Mayor and City Manager in private, behind locked doors at City Hall, depriving members of the general public from attending the meeting in person as required under Florida law. At the meeting, she made and supported the motion for an ordinance to end the Crescent City Police Department (CCPD). On February 11th, 2021, she voted to pass an ordinance to end CCPD, against the trust of her electors. She failed to comply with Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine Law. Ms. West through her signature, read and affirmed she understood the City Charter for the City of Crescent City, as well as, section 286.011 – Public meetings and records, Florida Statutes. Additionally, Ms. West took an oath to uphold the Constitution of the State of Florida. We, feel she is unfit to continue as City Commissioner and wish to recall her elected position.[6] |
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Recall opponents
West told the Palatka Daily News that "she may release a statement about the recall at a later date."[3]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Florida
Organizers filed paperwork to initiate the recall process in February 2021. The recall effort did not move forward after the Putnam County Supervisor of Elections determined they did not submit enough valid signatures.[3]
In March 2021, organizers submitted a new round of petitions. The elections office validated 109 signatures, nine more than were required for the recall to move forward.[3] The recall did not qualify for the ballot after a ruling from the Florida 7th Circuit Court determined that the recall process had not been correctly followed.[1][2]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ballotpedia Staff, "Email communication with Charles L. Overturf III, Putnam County Supervisor of Elections," July 26, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Palatka Daily News, "Judge tosses recall case against CC commissioner," May 6, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Palatka Daily News, "Group finds success in do-over effort to recall commissioner," March 31, 2021
- ↑ Facebook, "Recall Crescent City Florida," March 31, 2021
- ↑ Crescent City Florida, "Minutes City Commission Regular Meeting January 14, 2021," January 14, 2021
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Facebook, "Recall Crescent City Florida," March 29, 2021
