Two Wonderful Women Stand Up To The City! THANK YOU!!!!!
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2011
ACLU Files Class-Action Lawsuit on Behalf Voters of Poplar Bluff
CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. — The ACLU of Eastern Missouri filed a lawsuit today on behalf of registered voters of the City of Poplar Bluff who signed an initiative petition that the City Clerk, Pamela S. Kearbey, has refused to certify. Barbara Rexroat and Katherine Carda, two individuals who signed the petition filed the suit on their own behalf and on behalf of the class of at least 2,898 other registered voters who signed the petition.
The suit alleges that Missouri law gives citizens the right to an initiative petition that allows voters to decide whether to enacted proposed ordinances. Under state law, proponents were required to submit the signatures of approximately 830 registered voters. Although Kearney determined the initiative petition contained more than three times that number of valid signatures, she refused to certify the petition. The suit alleges Kearbey arbitrarily imposed a different signature requirement.
“Despite letters and phone calls, Poplar Bluff has refused to inform us how they settled on the arbitrary standard they are applying to the initiative petition,” said Brenda Jones, Executive Director of the ACLU of Eastern Missouri Legal Director. “The right of voters to propose laws is at the core of democracy. Poplar Bluff’s refusal to allow its citizens to vote is unacceptable.”
According to the lawsuit, voters who signed the petition have been deprived of the initiative process without due process and in violation of state law.
View the legal document filed: Complaint – Rexroat v. City of Poplar Bluff
It goes higher than Butler County. After the Missouri Legislature took a scant few days to reverse the results of the statewide Prop B anti-puppymill vote, they decided to enact legislation to prevent anything similar from being allowed on the ballot in the future. Outrageous. As the article above mentions, “The right of the voters to propose laws is at the core of democracy.”
No matter how you felt about Prop B in general, we need to all stand up and resist these attempts by the lawmakers to assert their authority above the law.
this will be very interesting ..politics at its best
That is why I had stated prior, take it Higher than Butler County Court
Fantastic! It is heartening to see that people have the courage to NEVER GIVE UP when they know they are doing what is right. Kudos to the courageous people who continue to fight on behalf of all the people of Poplar Bluff. This impressive committment to doing what is right despite oppressive local government corruption needs to make National news. Has anyone thought to contact Dateline or 20/20, or at least Associated Press?
We’ve tried to contact them…you can try as well.
Let the corruption Start. The city needs to have a complete audit. City equipment is being used for personal reasons. If the audit would be done I betcha corruption will be discovered. I left the city because of the corruption.