Why does it seem like there are more and more efforts out there in recent years to recall elected officials from office? Years ago, you never seemed to hear about recalls. Is it that people are getting more involved in politics, not just locally but nation-wide? Or more because of the economic state? I'd have to think it's a little of both.
Back in 2005, a recall election ripped the city of Marquette apart. It was because of a decision by members of the city commission to terminate the employment of the city attorney without cause. Four members of the commission were targeted to be recalled, they being Mayor Jerry Irby, Mayor pro-tem Sandy Spoelstra, Stu Bradley, and Sue Kensington. Many in support of the attorney were outraged at the decision, which seemed sudden and abrupt. Some claimed that the commissioners had an agenda against the attorney, and once a majority of commissioners supported the decision to terminate her employment, they did just that. Their vote to fire her took place during a meeting on January 31, 2005 and a recall election was eventually held later in the year.
It was a resounding yes by voters in the city of Marquette to recall the four targeted commissioners during the election on August 2, 2005. Whether residents were for or against this particular recall election, it signaled an end to the strife that existed in city politics at that time. Not only could the commission move forward in a positive light, but they could also begin the process to seat new commissioners. Obviously just because those four particular commissioners were recalled, it still took some time for the healing process to complete itself. Nearly seven years later, the troubles during 2005 are gone but I don't think they'll ever be forgotten. You have to believe that those four ex-members of the commission still hear some negativity of their decision all these years later. Some residents may have even boycotted their respective businesses and/or services (a couple of those former commissioners were part of prominent Marquette-based businesses). But in time, I think a large majority of people in the community have forgotten. And when you get a new influx of people into the area, they know nothing of the past troubles that Marquette have gone through. As you can see, the power of recall can have a resounding effect even in a small city like Marquette.
More often than not, when a recall election takes place, those being recalled tend to be ousted from office the majority of the time. A few years back, voters in Marquette Township recalled four members of their township board. Other smaller elections U.P.-wide have resulted in people being removed from their respective boards. This year, three members of the Ishpeming City Council are being targeted for recall. It's because of their unwillingness to support the city's police chief, Jim Bjorne, in purchasing retirement service credit. Bjorne would like to retire due to health reasons, but the majority of the commission would not support his attempts to purchase the service credit. Ultimately, the strife ended up causing him his job, but that story is far from over as he is planning on suing the city of Ishpeming as well as the eventual recall election for the three members of the Ishpeming City Commission. It'll be interesting to see what happens with that in the months to come.
So as you can see within the local area, recalls have been a prominent part of local politics in recent years, and they have proven to be effective. Yet, you have those detractors of recalls who would rather see those individuals targeted for recalls get the chance to serve out their terms, and then get voted our or stay in office. These days it seems, if you make a decision that ultimately upsets a large majority of the population, it could end up costing a person their political job. Recalls are definitely a tough thing for a community to go through, but once they are over, it allows a community to start over and heal. At least that is one positive that a recall is good for.
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