Matthew Showalter recall, Shepherd Public School District, Michigan (2021)
| Shepherd Public School District recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2021 Recalls in Michigan Michigan recall laws School board recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Matthew Showalter from his position as a trustee on the seven-member Shepherd Public School District Board of Education in Michigan did not go to a vote in 2021. Recall supporters did not file the requisite 1,487 signatures by the filing deadline on July 30, 2021.[1]
The recall effort began after Showalter allegedly ridiculed the name of an opposing student player while he was calling the junior varsity football game on September 23, 2020, over a Facebook Live broadcast. He allegedly said, "Who in their right mind would name a kid that?" The broadcast was deleted, and Showalter apologized for his words. He also stepped down from his position as vice president of the board, but he kept his seat as a trustee.[2][3] In an appeal against the approval of the recall petitions, Showalter denied saying those words.[4]
Showalter's term was due to expire in 2024.[5]
Recall supporters
The recall effort was started by Shepherd, Michigan, resident Teresa Meyer. She said Showalter's resignation as vice president was not enough. "I believe he should have stepped down as a board member," Meyer said.[3]
Meyer said she hoped Showalter would resign and make the recall effort unnecessary.[3]
Recall opponents
In response to the recall petition getting approved for circulation, Showalter said:
| “ | I am disappointed with the recall petition and the ongoing campaign against me and my character ... I am also disappointed in the individuals behind the effort’s lack of communication, having gone straight to a recall without having a conversation with me to discuss the situation.
|
” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Michigan
The Isabella County Election Commission approved the recall petition against Showalter in a clarity hearing on January 14, 2021, allowing it to be circulated.[2] Showalter appealed the decision to allow the petition to circulate on February 1, 2021.[7] A hearing on the appeal was held on May 28, 2021.[8] Judge Eric Janes rejected Showalter's appeal, allowing the recall effort to gather signatures.[4]
To get the recall on the ballot, supporters would have had to collect 1,487 signatures by July 30, 2021.[1][4]
Recall supporters initially tried to recall Showalter in 2020, but the recall petition language was rejected in a clarity hearing on November 23, 2020.[9]
2021 recall efforts
- See also: School board recalls
Ballotpedia tracked 92 school board recall efforts against 237 board members in 2021. Recall elections against 17 board members were held in 2021. The school board recall success rate was 0.42%.
The chart below details the status of 2021 recall efforts by individual school board member.
See also
- Shepherd Public School District, Michigan
- Recall campaigns in Michigan
- Political recall efforts, 2021
- School board recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Morning Sun, "Showalter recall fails to meet signature mark," July 29, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Morning Sun, "Recall language targeting Shepherd school board member approved," January 15, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Morning Sun, "Recall campaign targets shepherd school board member," November 10, 2020
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Iosco County News-Herald, "Court denies Showalter appeal of recall petition language," May 28, 2021
- ↑ Shepherd Public Schools, "Board of Education," accessed November 12, 2020
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ The Morning Sun, "Shepherd school board member appeals recall language," February 1, 2021
- ↑ The Morning Sun, "School board member facing recall gets his day in court," May 26, 2021
- ↑ The Morning Sun, "Elections panel rejects Showalter recall language," November 24, 2020
| ||||||||||||||
 |
State of Michigan Lansing (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |