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A
Rigorous Exercise in Defining
Grounds for Recall
Michelle Thone, Amesbury City
Council
(02/06/07)
 Would you recall an elected
official on the basis of mere dissatisfaction?
Would you consider recalling an elected official because
he or she had opinions or views on one or more of the
issues that differed from your own? Or, would you
initiate a recall because you didn’t like someone’s
personality?
These questions, which appear to be suitable to consider
at election time, have actually become the basis for a
recall effort currently underway in Amesbury.
Most expect the typical response to the question of
“why recall?” to be unethical, criminal, or
egregious acts on the part of a public official.
This would justifiably be a judicious use of the recall
provision. Given that consideration, recall is a
serious matter. So, is initiating a recall based on
dissatisfaction with an elected official’s views
also considered judicious?
In a community like Amesbury that does not, by law,
define grounds for recall, any grounds can, and have,
become suitable. The remaining question is whether
the grounds determined suitable are also palatable to
this politically charged community, and more importantly,
that the impact it will sustain is acceptable.
These answers will be very telling of whether it is the
taxpayers or the special interests (sometimes referred to
as the good ol’ boys club) that have hold of this
city.
Amesbury is beginning to realize the precedent such an
action taken on this basis will serve.
It’s possible that now or in the future any
candidate, and quite possibly the opposition’s,
could become the subject of dissatisfaction by a
disgruntled group. And the definition of a
disgruntled group could be nothing more than an opposing
view, of which there will always be one.
Clearly, taking this action on these grounds would only
serve to undermine the vote of a legitimate election and
grind government to a halt – year after year –
and, in effect, make an elected term worthless.
To most people, the basis of this recall should not only
appear to be unusual, but the expected timing of the vote
as well. It will most likely occur in the spring,
costing taxpayers thousands of dollars - only to repeat
these costs six months later in the fall election.
That being said, a reasonable thought might be, if you
are unhappy with your elected official’s voting
record, then don’t vote for him or her in the next
election, or, better yet, run yourself.
Perhaps the answer to the question of “why not wait?”
should be asked of the folks now promoting a meritless
misuse of the recall provision.
Why not wait? Well, politics has many layers and to
learn the truth you have to know how to peel an
onion. Peel back the layers to find what lies
beneath.
Amesbury elected a conservative majority on the Council
last year. A conservative majority of like-minded
individuals that has stuck together on nearly every
issue. A conservative majority that truly
represents the taxpayers - not municipal employees,
special interests, or those whose only interest in
Amesbury is financial gain. The latter no longer
control the Council, and liberal spending has come to a
halt. So why have a recall that would undermine the vote
of the taxpayers?
Political realignment.is the simple answer. It could not
have been stated better than by Amesbury’s mayor who
was quoted as saying how a successful recall could affect
the Council votes on his vetoes. It could “potentially
change” the votes on his vetoes to 5-4.
And “it probably would give me veto power.”
This is the same mayor who has vetoed the Council’s
legislation on eminent domain to protect property rights,
and zero-based budgeting for fiscal restraint.
So, what is the intended purpose of this so-called
recall? Clearly, this action is not in the best interests
of the taxpayers.
Whose interests are being served?
Michelle Thone, a former Director of the Amesbury
Taxpayers Association, currently serves as the Vice
President of Amesbury’s Municipal Council, as a
District Representative, and an appointed member of the
Council’s Finance subcommittee. You can emai her at CouncilorThone@att.net
*Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The February 2007
Edition of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly
Publication.
All Contents (C) 2007, Valley Patriot, Inc.
We publish 10,000 newspapers and distribute in Andover,
North Andover,
Methuen, Haverhill, Chelmsford, Georgetown, Groveland,
Boxford, Amesbury,
Lawrence, Dracut, Tewksbury, Hampton & Salisbury
Beach, and Lowell.
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