There’s a lot to unpack, but I’ll take a stab at explaining the recall you are now able to support or ignore, as you choose.
As is the right of every citizen, an Onaway resident recently asked for recall of four board members: Rieger, Kowalski, Palmer, and Chaskey. Two separate panels considered the petition. (By law, they can only decide if the wording is “clear” and “factual.”) Petitions were allowed in Cheboygan County (for Kowalski) and Presque Isle (for Rieger and Palmer.) Since Rieger and Kowalski are up for re-election in November, only Palmer’s recall moved forward.
A recall means that in the next election, the official who is challenged (John Palmer) will be placed on the ballot. If that person receives the highest number of votes, he continues to serve. If not, he is immediately replaced by the person running against him.
Recall petitions are circulating now. The rules state: Signers of recall petitions must be registered to vote in the electoral district (your township) of the official whose recall is sought… Each signer must list his or her signature, address, zip code and the date of signing…in the presence of the circulator.
Seven hundred eight signatures (a percentage of voters from the last gubernatorial election) are needed to support the recall. If the goal is reached and the signatures are certified, Palmer will be placed on the ballot in the November election, along with other board members whose terms are up. The voters will decide who sits on the Onaway School Board going forward. Since this is not a special election, there’s no additional cost to taxpayers.
I won’t tell you how to vote or whether to sign the recall petition. That’s a matter for your conscience. But here’s what I have to say about the matter.
*No one deserves the abuse the woman exercising her legal right to ask for recall has experienced since she began her petition drive. Sadly, much of it has come from the recall targets themselves. While it’s tough to be challenged with a recall, professionalism must be part of every elected official’s behavior.
*Some people are not meant to be school board members. While they might be nice to chat with and willing to work hard, they’re too volatile to listen and too ill-informed to understand that the goal of education is preparing children for life in a world that’s constantly changing.
*This has gone on too long. Because of harassment and micro-managing, teachers, administrators, and staff members, we’ve lost good people and will likely continue to for years to come. We need to stand up and support our educators in order to offer the best future to our kids.