Recall Decision Main Topic at City Council

A judge's decision to deny a recall for Mayor Ron Littlefield was the main talking point at Tuesday night's city council meeting.
     
The recallers were there to ask the city to clarify the charter so, next time, the recall can go through.
    
The recall rules in the city charter were amended in 2002, but in the ruling Tuesday, the judge said it was never enacted so the recall defaults to state law. Under state law, the recall didn't have enough signatures.

"I don't know how you amend something that you've never enacted, that doesn't make sense to anybody," said Recall Ron Supporter Charlie Wysong.

But that's how the judge ruled, and until another judge says otherwise, the recall is dead. So what's next? Judge Hollingsworth ruled the city charter isn't in compliance with state law, and many of the councilors want to fix that. Councilwoman Deborah Scott asked the city attorney to go through the charter and compare it to state law.

"And determine that we are not enacting something that is in conflict, or if we do, that we have legal grounds to do so," Scott said.

To change the recall rules for the city charter, it must go to a public vote. The next vote can't be held until August 2012.  If and when that happens, Councilman Peter Murphy doesn't want any more gray area.

"Crystal clear," Murphy said. "So that everybody understands that if you post the charter on the website and you see the rules for recall, they mean what they say they mean."

Recall leaders say they're looking at appealing the decision.

Mayor Littlefield is holding a press conference Wednesday at 9 a.m. to talk about the ruling.