The Marginalized Attempt Recalls

May 20, 2014

For weeks both Topix and Facebook have had a frenzy of posts regarding how citizens “should go down to City Hall and support Doug Bagby at the next meeting!” But at last night’s City Council meeting only Dan Coffman spoke during the citizen input. For the most part Mr. Coffman parroted the DAR’s talking points and challenged the council regarding their recent actions. The council respectfully answered all of the inquiries and the meeting moved on without incident.

It has been rumored for over a month that those claiming to have been marginalized or disenfranchised by the actions of the current council are attempting a recall of Mayor Pearson and Johnny Brannum. I assume that the group attempting the recall has chosen the political committee name of “Bring Back Our Future”. I also speculate that Eddy Justice’s Facebook page “Citizens for Poplar Bluff’s Future” is aligned with the effort.

[Update: According to Eddy Justice, the Citizens for Poplar Bluff’s Future is not participating in the recall effort. My speculation was partly based on the fact that the facebook page was created on May 14 and that is the same day that the domain BringBackOurFuture.com was registered with GoDaddy.com.]

The Missouri Ethics Commission recently rejected Bring Back Our Future’s first attempt at forming due to an incorrectly filled out application submitted. At this time, no subsequent application has been filed. They need to hurry since over $8,000 has allegedly been raised for the effort as of today. Sources also report that the DAR is slated to advertise/announce the recall petition as early as tomorrow (Wednesday 5/21). Though no one has confirmed whether the announcement will be a paid advertisement or a “free” Schrieber editorial.

The recall of a council member is allowed by Missouri statutes but understanding the rules of recall for our third-class city is a convoluted and messy process involving statutory construction and knowledge of the three different forms of third-class city Poplar Bluff has operated under during it’s history. That being said, the following are the steps necessary to completing a recall.

Recall Petition

The first step to recall a council member is a recall petition:

  • Petition must be signed by 25% of the voters in Ward 1 (for Pearson) and Ward 4 (for Brannum).
  • The Petition must be completed within 60 days of the first signature.
  • The person getting the petition signatures must be from the ward where the signatures are collected.
  • Each petition page of signatures has to also have two authorizing signatures: One signature of the person who got the signatures and one of a notary public.

The petition is to be turned in to the County Clerk’s office who is charged by law with authenticating each petition signature against the voter’s registration signature. If enough signatures are validated and the petition is affirmed then the next step is a recall vote.

Recall Vote

This isn’t a vote for the next council member, this is a vote of whether the council member should be removed from office. It is somewhat analogous to a “Confidence Vote”.

The recall vote will only take place within the ward of that council member on the next possible general election ballot. The ballot question will be formed such as:

[  ]  FOR the removal of  . . . . . . . . . . . . . (name) from the office of Councilman of Ward ____.

[  ]  AGAINST the removal of  . . . . . . . . . . . . . (name) from the office of Councilman of Ward ____.

If a simple majority of those casting votes elect to remove the council member, the council member steps down at the next meeting. If not, the council member continues in their position.

Interim Council Member

Contrary to popular, local belief, a recalled council member is NOT replaced by election. Missouri statutes state that any third-class city in a county less than 900,000 inhabitants shall have all vacancies filled by a vote of council.  (YES, you read that right – the remaining council members get to choose the interim council member). However, the recalled council member is prohibited from being named as the interim council member.

New Council Member Elected

At the next regularly scheduled city council election (which is in April of each year), the voters of that ward would go to the polls to elect a council member to serve out the remaining portion of the term.

Both the interim council member and the recalled council member are eligible to run at that time.

And then Elected Again

Finally, when that ward’s normal election cycle comes back around, the council members must again run for re-election. The way the timing looks, if the group is completely successful in their recall, the voters of Ward 1 would be at the polls in April of 2015 and, again, in April of 2016.

Editorial Time

I personally think it is more likely that I get struck by lightning, twice, over the course of the next year than either Brannum or Pearson being recalled by their wards.

  1. jim

    Don Schreibr is not the owner of the DAR. I believe it is Gary Rust of Cape…The DAR has become a laughing tock. I attended a large social function a week ago in Cape and was asked a dozen times to explain what is up with our paper. The truth is that crooks who have been running this town for years are having a tantrum because the folks got tired of their shenanigans and booted their butts out. Schreiber must not realize he insults the voters….his readers when he writes the neg thing he does. The majority spoke and so be it. If we will all support the new officers and mayor… we will see a good result. perhaps the shady activity will come out for all to see.

  2. larry

    I wonder if the dar is trying increase sales by stiring the pot. The price of the paper is 50¢ a copy except for wed & sun which is $1.25 over priced for what you get. The 50¢ copies do not contain enough news to start a fire or a trip to the out house. Those $1.25 copies are a ripoff most times no additional news and the sales flyiers stuffed in the paper i think bring money from supplier of the adds. What next raise the price of the paper on fridays because yard sale ads

  3. Bill

    It is obvious who is trying to run this town. The self proclaimed watch dog of P.B. The D.A.R owner thinks he is just that, our watch dog. That paper is only good for training your dog, and to start a fire. From a former law enforcement officer I could tell you who is corrupt in this town. It is not the ones in jail. Give this council a chance and we might see their power deminish, and the town prosper.

  4. Karen slicer

    The DAR is corrupt. It’s a shame we can’t have good newspaper with good old fashioned journalism.

  5. Jeffrey

    I am getting really tired of the daily american republics constantly pushing the “end of poplar bluff is here” all because the politics are being exposed. I say let’s let things air out for a while you never know people may start coming out with the truth about illegal activities that were happening. How can you not want to give a city council that is pushing for honesty and openness. They are wanting more voices to be heard it’s a win win. Dar news won’t get the story before the council meetings from here on out! It’s sad when poplar bluff people need to subscribe to St. Louis post dispatch in order to hear the other side of the story.

  6. jerry

    talk about drama {Eddy Justice
    40 minutes ago near Loma Linda, MO
    I am not nor have I been the instigator of, nor activist for any effort to recall any City Councilperson in Poplar Bluff. To say so or insinuate anything of the sort is not only irresponsible but down right defamatory.} glad i do not live in poplar bluff. Doug Bagby should have been gone a long time ago. so why not give the present admin a chance? or would this be to easy.. your acting like Prozac babies…