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RECALLS IN OAKLAND CO. JUMP; PETITIONS FILED IN 6 COMMUNITIES
Topic Started: Nov 2 2006, 02:49 AM (216 Views)
c3hull
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Oakland County
Petitions for Oakland Co. recalls jump

Concerned residents go after officials in 6 communities

November 1, 2006

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BY GINA DAMRON

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Residents in six Oakland County communities are trying to oust some of their elected officials through recall campaigns, citing such concerns as misuse of funds and abuse of power.

On Monday, residents in Pontiac, Oak Park and Holly Township filed petitions, which will be reviewed and either approved or denied later this month.

Having so many filed in one day is unusual, said Ellen Davis Halsey, director of the Oakland County Elections Division. The county had only four recall campaigns in 2005.

"People are maybe paying more attention, or people are upset in general about what's going on in politics," she said Tuesday. She added that Ortonville residents filed multiple petitions in October and Madison Heights residents filed them in June and July -- but all were denied because of problems with the petition language.

A petition looking to recall the Clawson City Council and mayor was approved in June.

This is the fifth time a petition to recall Pontiac Mayor Clarence Phillips has been submitted for approval. Four others were denied. The newest one claims that Phillips has laid off police officers.

Including the filing on Monday, there have been two petitions filed out of Holly Township to oust Township Supervisor Dale Smith. In Oak Park, where a resident wants to recall Board of Education member Allyson Abrams, the filing on Monday was a first.

If the language of each petition is approved and if the petitioners gather enough signatures, it could be as early as February when these officials find their names on a ballot proposal asking voters to decide whether they should stay in office.

That's what Oak Park resident Mary Coleman Burton is counting on. She wants to see Abrams -- who became the presiding officer of the school board after the president was voted out by board members on Monday -- kicked off the board.

Burton, 70, said that she thinks Abrams is unethical and is worried that she misused district funds.

"The only thing I can do is do a recall," she said Tuesday. "Nobody wants to listen. I think this will get their attention."

Abrams didn't want to talk about the petition, but said "there are some frivolous claims."

Paul Garfield, who is leading a campaign to overthrow the Clawson City Council -- which includes the mayor as a member -- said that taxpayers are starting to hold their elected officials accountable.

"I think people are just tired of ... cities manipulating the public to fund pet projects that they want funded," he said.

In Macomb County, there was a successful recall campaign that led to the dismissal of New Haven council members, the council president and village clerk in August. Some have said that the $3.5-million municipal building that was under construction led to taxpayers taking action.

Garfield said the Clawson petition stems from the council pushing a road bond issue, which failed when it was put on the ballot in May, but was approved by voters in August. He worries that some of the $21.5-million bond will go toward downtown development.

"They didn't care what the people had to say," said Garfield, who founded Clawson Taxpayers, a group of about 1,500 residents who keep tabs on city issues.

The group has until Nov. 28 to turn in petitions signed by 1,266 residents. Garfield said he has enough signatures, but is waiting to see the results of the gubernatorial election, since the governor would appoint new board members if the entire council is overthrown.

Penny Luebs, a member of the council, said the bond money is designated only for road improvements. Still, she said she understands residents' concerns.

"When people feel powerless, they tend to take legal action," Luebs said. "When people feel they're not being heard or listened to, their comments or suggestions or complaints are taken to the next level."
Contact GINA DAMRON at 248-351-3293 or gdamron@freepress.com.
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c3hull
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If the officials in those communities are as incompetent and arrogant as our BOE, I hope they have successful recall elections. Citizens have had enough of the "Family & Friends" program. Jobs being filled with people that aren't properly educated or qualified for these highly paid positions they are "annointed" to. :ph43r: :blink:
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Anna Krome
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Thanks for that post. I'd bet the noise made here in Livonia was heard around the tri-county area--loud and clear.

We can stop this course of misuse of power.

Has anyone heard about the university, where the students held peaceful protests? They opposed the new administrator--and they won!

Their Board finally took notice and the administrator is gone!

AK

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mikefromholland
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Anna Krome
Nov 2 2006, 12:47 PM
Thanks for that post. I'd bet the noise made here in Livonia was heard around the tri-county area--loud and clear.

We can stop this course of misuse of power.

Has anyone heard about the university, where the students held peaceful protests? They opposed the new administrator--and they won!

Their Board finally took notice and the administrator is gone!

AK

Yes, that Gallaudet story was quite interesting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/30/education/30gallaudet.html

And here's an interesting editorial on the controversy.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/o...-oped-headlines
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