Recall update: challenges submitted, three citizens ask for signature removal from petitions
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ALPENA -- Challenges against petition signatures for the recall of Alpena Public Schools Board of Education members Eric Lawson, Sarah Costain, and Monica Dziesinski have been submitted, Alpena County Clerk Keri Betrand said.
Wednesday was the last day for the three APS Board of Education trustees to submit challenges to signatures on the recall petitions against them.
In February, Alpena Township resident Yvonne Johnson submitted recall petitions against APS Board of Education members Sarah Costain, Monica Dziesinski, and Eric Lawson. Signatures were collected on the petitions in May and June and submitted to the County Clerk on June 29.
Each of the board members needs 3,771 signatures for a recall election to be declared. If a recall is declared, the board members’ names will be on the ballot in November. Challengers will have 10 days after the announcement of a recall election to file an affidavit to run against the board members. Challengers would be running for a two-year partial term on the APS Board of Education.
Dziesinski and Lawson are facing recall for voting to hire Kallman Legal Group as a second law firm, voting against implementing a rain garden at Alpena High School, and voting yes to awarding a paving contract to a higher bidder.
Costain is facing recall for voting against the rain garden and voting to hire Kallman, as well as for missing 30% of all school board meetings in her first year in office.
Bertrand has counted and verified all submitted signatures. Each board member had over 500 signatures considered invalid, leaving all three within 100 signatures of the 3,771 signature threshold.
Alpena County Clerk Keri Bertrand said that each of the board members submitted "quite a few" challenges to signatures. She said "hundreds" of signatures are being challenged.
Chapter 19 of the State of Michigan Election Officials Manual states that the officeholder whose recall is sought may challenge the authenticity of a signature affixed to the recall petition or the registration of a voter whose signature appears on the recall petition. Challenges must be submitted in writing within 30 calendar days after the petition was filed. The officeholder's challenge must contain specific reference to the signature or signatures being challenged.
Bertrand said her and her team are reviewing the challenges and will be able to meet the deadline of Aug. 3 to announce a recall election.
Additionally, Betrand said that three people sent letters to remove their signatures from the recall petitions. She said that there is no law or statute in Michigan that addresses whether a clerk should honor the request to remove a signature. It is therefore up to her discretion whether to remove those signatures or not.
Bertrand said she will not be removing those names from the petitions.
Reagan Voetberg can be reached at 989-358-5683 or rvoetberg@thealpenanews.com.