The Isabella County Election Commission Thursday rejected petition language aimed at forcing a recall of Rep. Kevin Cotter, R-Union Township, but recall organizers said they’d try again immediately.
The three member board, comprised of Isabella County Probate Judge William Ervin, Treasurer Steve Pickens and Clerk Joyce Swan, ruled that two different versions of the language were unclear.
But Joan Rasegan of Shepherd, who is leading the effort in Isabella County to recall Gov. Rick Snyder and is closely tied to the effort to recall Cotter, said she planned to rewrite the language to address the concerns of the elections board and resubmit it, probably yet this week.
“We will re-file with more clear wording, so they can’t say that it’s not clear to the voters what we’re asking them to sign,” Rasegan said.
Attorney Gary P. Gordon, representing Cotter, said he had seen virtually identical language in a flurry of recall petitions filed against other representatives and senators. Those legislators, all Republicans, have come under fire for supporting the Snyder agenda.
Both versions blasted took Snyder to task for voting in favor of the bill that strengthened the power of emergency financial managers named to handle the affairs of financially distressed municipalities and school districts.
Pickens said the recall language mischaracterized the power of an emergency financial manager. The recall organizers said managers could remove elected officials from office; Pickens said the managers couldn’t remove them office, but could set aside their duties.
Backers of the recall said they were ordinary voters – and they knew what the words meant.
Full Article: VIDEO: Language to recall Cotter rejected; recall organizers say they’ll try again – themorningsun.com.