Gordy Clark and Carolyn Smart recall, Townsend, Massachusetts (2016)
| Townsend Selectmen recall |
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| Officeholders |
Carolyn Smart |
| Recall status |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2016 Recalls in Massachusetts Massachusetts recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
Efforts in Townsend, Massachusetts, to recall Town Selectman Gordy Clark and Board of Selectmen Chair Carolyn Smart from their positions were initiated in November 2015.[1] Recall organizers halted signature collection in May 2016, citing a state investigation into alleged violations of open meeting laws by Clark and Smart.[2] In July 2016, the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission ended their investigation after finding no violations of open meeting laws.[3]
Recall supporters
Kelly Kelly argued for recalling Clark and Smart based on alleged violations of the state's public meeting requirements. Kelly suggested that the board's decision to hire outside firm BadgeQuest as part of the search for a new police chief occurred without public input. A state investigation concluded in July 2016 found that the town had not violated state requirements for open meetings because the hiring process took place over multiple public meetings.[3]
Kelly stated Clark violated ethics rules by not disclosing past dealings with Warren Ryder, who was initially selected as interim police chief by the board but did not take the position. Recall supporters were targeting Smart because they argued she filed unmerited complaints against town officials resulting in resignations or legal proceedings. Clark and Smart refuted both of these claims.[1]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Massachusetts
Recall supporters initially had until November 30, 2015, to collect 614 valid signatures from registered voters in Townsend. These signatures had to include at least 125 from each of the town's four voting districts. On November 16, 2015, the town's legal counsel issued an interpretation of the local charter that required separate recall petitions for each targeted official.[4] Recall organizers announced that they were approaching 550 signatures for each selectmen in late January 2016.[5] The recall was paused in May 2016 and ended on July 30, 2016, after a state investigation refuted the rationale behind the effort.[3] No recall affidavits were filed against Clark or Smart.[6]
Recent news
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See also
- Recall campaigns in Massachusetts
- Political recall efforts, 2015
- Political recall efforts, 2016
- City council recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sentinel & Enterprise, "Townsend recall effort draws mixed reviews," November 21, 2015
- ↑ Lowell Sun, "Townsend recall effort put on hold," May 19, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Nashoba Valley Voice, "Townsend selectmen fight back tears while reflecting on months of criticism," August 9, 2016
- ↑ Sentinel & Enterprise, "Town counsel: Separate affidavits needed in Townsend selectmen recall," November 16, 2015
- ↑ Sentinel & Enterprise, "Townsend recall bid 'very close' on signatures," January 23, 2016
- ↑ Recall of Smart and Clark, "Home," accessed August 15, 2016
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