Steve Hunter recall, Richwood, Louisiana 2009

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Richwood, Louisiana, Mayoral recall
Officeholders
Steve Hunter
Recall status
Recall approved
Recall election date
October 17, 2009
See also
Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2009 Recalls in Louisiana Louisiana recall laws Mayoral recalls Recall reports

A vote to recall Steve Hunter from his position as mayor of Richwood, Louisiana took place on October 17, 2009. Barbara Brooks and Lavenia McKinley initiated the recall effort. Richwood is in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, and had a population of about 2,115, as of the recall effort. Hunter was successfully recalled on October 17, 2009.

• Yes: 192 (52.75%)a
• No: 172 (47.25%)

Six months after he was recalled, Steve Hunter was re-elected to the post of Mayor in Richwood.

Background

Richwood recall petition rally

The recall petition drive was started in August 2008, a month after Hunter took office. Controversy in the town began in July 2008 over an investigation into the fiscal practices of former Mayor Ed Harris. State police began an investigation at that time of possible illegal payments to town employees by Harris. This included Harris writing more than $70,000 in severance and vacation checks to employees days before the Hunter administration took office. Recall supporters said they mostly supported Ed Harris.

Hunter's reaction

According to Mayor Hunter, "For the most part, our citizens don't understand the way government goes."

Lawsuit

Mayor Hunter claims that the recall petition was wrongly certified and that there are several problems with the signatures. Included in the allegations were claims that 75 signatures on the petition were forged, some signatures didn't match the dates the signatures were witnessed and some forms had missing dates of birth. Additionally, Hunter argued that the secretary of state failed to notify all elected officials within 24 hours and failed to send a copy of the petition by registered mail to the District Clerk of Court's office.

Court ruling

On October 6, 2009 a judge was expected to rule on a motion that sought to dismiss the recall effort to oust Richwood Mayor Steve Hunter. On October 13, 2009 the Louisiana 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal affirmed the ruling by 4th District Judge Wilson Rambo. Rambo previously ruled against Hunter's lawsuit that claimed that the recall petition was wrongly certified and that there were several problems with the signatures. According to reports, however, Hunter is prepared to appeal the case to the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Path to the ballot

Supporters of the recall effort said they endured a "roller coaster ride" in the process of getting the recall question certified for the ballot. 356 valid signatures were required to force the recall, or 33% of the 1,068 qualified voters in Richwood.

In December 2008, petitioners filed recall petitions with 414 names. The Registrar of Voters removed 112 names citing a variety of reasons. The primary reason was a mismatch between the signature on the petition and the signatures on voter registration cards. According to recall supporters and people who signed the petition, the mismatch was caused not by the fact that they did not sign the petition but because in many cases their signatures on voter registration cards were signed many years ago and their signatures have subsequently changed enough to cause a mismatch. At one point the recall effort was abandoned.

See also

• Recall campaigns in Louisiana
• Political recall efforts, 2009