Mike Blazek recall, Valparaiso, Nebraska (2021)
| Valparaiso Village Board Member recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Recall election date |
| July 13, 2021 |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2021 Recalls in Nebraska Nebraska recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
Voters in Valparaiso, Nebraska recalled Village Board Member Mike Blazek on July 13, 2021.[1]
Organizers alleged that Blazek had abused his power by having a village employee work on a drainage project on Blazek's personal property. Blazek responded that the recall effort was retaliation against his role in starting an investigation into potential criminal activity at the Valparaiso Library.[2][3]
Recall vote
Voters had until July 13, 2021, to turn in mail ballots to the Saunders County Courthouse, according to Wahoo Newspaper.[4]
Mike Blazek recall, 2021
Mike Blazek lost the Village of Valparaiso Board of Trustees recall election on July 13, 2021.
Recall Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✖ | Yes |
67.0
|
175 | ||
No |
33.0
|
86 | |||
Total Votes |
261 | ||||
|
|
Recall supporters
The recall effort was initiated by Linda Fletcher. The petition included the following grounds for recall.[3]
| “ | He has abused his position for personal benefit by having village employees grade, seed and water property personally owned by him. He has discussed village business on social media and spread false information. He has harassed and bullied village employees and others. Two village clerks have resigned in the two years since his election.[5] | ” |
Recall opponents
Blazek issued the following response to the recall effort.[2]
| “ | This recall by Linda Fletcher has no merit. The Nebraska State Patrol and Nebraska State Auditor’s office are currently investigating potential criminal activity that I, Mike Blazek, identified at the Valparaiso Library. Library Director Lori Springer is the daughter of Linda Fletcher. The library remains closed by the village board as a result of inappropriate expenditures being confirmed.[5] | ” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Nebraska
According to Nebraska Statute, organizers were required to collect signatures equal to "forty-five percent of the total vote cast for the person receiving the most votes for that office in the last general election."[6][2] In this case, 104 signatures were required.[7]
Recall organizers submitted 133 signatures on April 26, and the Saunders County Clerk validated 128 of them on May 3. The recall election was scheduled for July 13, 2021. Voters had until 5 p.m. to turn in mail ballots to the Saunders County Courthouse, according to Wahoo Newspaper.[4]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Wahoo Newspaper, "Valparaiso board member recalled after unofficial count," July 13, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Wahoo Newspaper, "Village board recall in process," March 17, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedwahoo - ↑ 4.0 4.1 Wahoo Newspaper, "Village board approves recall election date," May 20, 2021
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "Nebraska Revised Statute 32-1303," accessed April 30, 2021
- ↑ Wahoo Newspaper, "Village board recall found valid," May 12, 2021
