The urge to oust city leaders has intensified in the struggling economy as more mayors raise taxes and cut services to close budget shortfalls.
Fifty-seven mayors faced recall attempts last year, up from 23 in 2009, according to Ballotpedia, a non-profit that tracks recall elections. So far this year: 15. Almost all have failed. Recalls are so frequent that the U.S. Conference of Mayors today launches a campaign warning mayors to brace for recalls.
The effort includes a documentary-style film, Recall Fever: Stop the Madness. The film recounts recent recall efforts in Omaha; Miami; Akron, Ohio; and Chattanooga, Tenn.
“Any person who’s coming in to serve needs to understand this is happening,” says Tom Cochran, CEO and executive director of the non-partisan mayor’s group. Cochran says that budgetary decisions made in this tough economic climate are likely to trigger more anger. “If they don’t have a website, if they don’t have a blogger,” he says of mayors, “they better, by God, get one.”
Full Article: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-04-11-mayors_N.htm