I believe it's time to actually start this thread. I'm not saying that Mayor Curry will resign or be recalled, but this is the first time I've ever thought it could conceivably happen since I've lived here (1995):
(someone correct if any of this is wrong)
Vacancy in the Office
If the Mayor's Office becomes vacant, it is filled in this order:
1. City Council President (Currently Scott Wilson, likely to be Tommy Hazouri in July)
2. City Council Vice President (Tommy Hazouri)
3. Chair of the Rules Committee (Joyce Morgan)
4. Chair of the Finance Committee (Aaron Bowman)
5. (Council Designates an Acting Mayor)
A Special Election is then called by the Supervisor of Elections between 1 and 6 months in the future.
Recalling a Mayor
(this is governed by State Law, and is NOT simple)
1. Curry must be in office until July 1st, 2020 (25% of his term)
2. A recall petition must be approved for circulation (not sure by who). The petition must cite one of these reasons: malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, drunkenness, incompetence, permanent inability to perform official duties, and conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude.
3. 5% of the registered voters in Duval County must sign it within 30 days (31,112 people).
4. The signatures must be provided to, "the auditor or clerk of the municipality or charter county, or his or her equivalent." Not sure who that is. The Clerk of Court is Ronnie Fussell, but I don't think that's who this refers to.
5. The "clerk" mentioned above presents to Supervisor of Elections (required to do so immediately), and the group organizing the petition has to pay $0.10/signature (to validate the signatures)
6. Assuming the SoE can validate the signatures (the SoE has 30 days), the SoE states this to the "clerk"
7. The "clerk" serves this to the Mayor
8. The Mayor has 5 days to respond with a statement in his defense.
9. The group organizing the petition has to then get a second set of signatures (15% of the electorate, or 93,337 people)
10. Repeat steps 4-6
11. The Mayor is given 5 days to resign.
12. If no resignation, then a recall election is staged between 30 and 60 days later.
13. If the mayor is recalled, then the vacancy is temporarily filled as if the Mayor had resigned.
14. Between 30 and 60 days later, the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court (not the SoE) calls a special election to elect a new Mayor.
Truly, I don't see a full recall happen as the process is crazy difficult. But conceivably, could the process start and could the Mayor resign during it (Nixon-esque)? I suppose.
Personally, I don't see it happening. If I had to predict, they get Brian Hughes and it stops there. Given the seriousness of the situation however, it's worth looking at.
Does being drunk on power count?
Also, prior to JEA, I felt the only reason we may be able to recall him would be for misfeasance, but I don't think that'd hold up well to the general public's scrutiny.
However, depending on these investigations, we might have a strong case for malfeasance. Bonus points; the investigations may wrap up around the time 25% of his term is over...
I'll sign it. In fact, I would help collect signatures.
I have never heard as much talk from so many quarters about recalling a mayor as I have recently. In fact, I haven't found anyone who is opposed to it although I have to admit I haven't spoken to his wife and kids ;D.
Would love to see a current opinion poll regarding his standing with the electorate. How low can he go?
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Quote
Recent events have led some in the city to look into the rules for recalling the Mayor of Jacksonville. State and local law provide for two different procedures for recalling elected officials.
Read more: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/rules-for-recalling-the-mayor-of-jacksonville/
What will be the "charges" represented in a recall petition?
Quote from: Charles Hunter on January 15, 2020, 06:41:22 PM
What will be the "charges" represented in a recall petition?
This could be a starting point:
QuoteDefinition of misfeasance: : trespass specifically : the performance of a lawful action in an illegal or improper manner
Just boosting this... no reason in particular...
Quote from: marcuscnelson on December 03, 2020, 12:12:14 AM
Just boosting this... no reason in particular...
Lol... sure...
Man, I'd love to do this with Curry. Sadly, negotiating a bad Lot J deal isn't likely going to get him recalled.
Now, let's wait until the Feds complete their JEA investigation.
It's all about how you sell it. A bad Lot J deal only won't get him recalled if no one tries to get him recalled. There's a reason you basically have to campaign for it, because it's a matter of convincing people.
Soooo... there was a reason to boost this... ? :o
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Ben Becker (https://twitter.com/benbeckeranjax/status/1349123456428896257?s=21) on Twitter:
QuoteA source tells me "growing support" among some business leaders behind initiating a recall of Mayor Curry and vulnerable council members if Lot J passes but I'm told "It's not easy" and is "complicated"(1/3)
Adding to getting rid of Curry:
City Council members voting for Lot J are to Jacksonville citizens what the US Senators and House members who voted to object to Arizona and Pennsylvania are to the citizens of the United States. Only thinking about themselves, not their oath to look out for the best interests of their City/Country.
Donors need to not make future donations to their campaigns and voters need to vote them from office.
Here is the hit list to remember:
QuoteThe following councilmembers voted for the Lot J proposal:
Aaron Bowman
Michael Boylan
Kevin Carrico
LeAnna Cumber
Rory Diamond
Terrance Freeman
Reggie Gaffney
Sam Newby
Ju'Coby Pittman
Brenda Priestly Jackson
Ron Salem
Randy White
The other challenge is going to be protecting the members who voted against Lot J. One of the things that makes Curry so powerful is the fundraising and influence network he built as state GOP chair and carried into City Hall. He'll almost certainly be vengeful enough to get well-funded candidates against people like Ferraro, Becton, Carlucci, and Hazouri. While it might be time for some of those people to go anyway, it will be key to ensure that their replacements are not Curry machine puppets.
Quote from: marcuscnelson on January 12, 2021, 11:51:00 PM
The other challenge is going to be protecting the members who voted against Lot J. One of the things that makes Curry so powerful is the fundraising and influence network he built as state GOP chair and carried into City Hall. He'll almost certainly be vengeful enough to get well-funded candidates against people like Ferraro, Becton, Carlucci, and Hazouri. While it might be time for some of those people to go anyway, it will be key to ensure that their replacements are not Curry machine puppets.
I don't think Curry will give a rat's ass about who is on the City Council after he is no longer mayor. Just like Trump, he is willing to cut bait with anyone who can't currently advance his personal ego and interests. Now that you mention it, that Curry is lame duck probably gave the super 7 greater comfort they could vote against this deal without being impacted by Curry's middle finger.
Now Harden is a different matter. He is vengeful when he loses and he will surely do what he can to undermine the reelection of the super 7, although some are term limited and thus immune anyway. People need to vote for any candidate that does not receive Harden money. His endorsement is just the opposite of a 5 star Yelp review when evaluating candidates.
Of the seven Council Members who voted "No" - only DeFoor and Carlucci can run for re-election in 2023. The other five (Becton, Dennis, Ferraro, Hazouri, and Morgan) are all term-limited. My guess is that all but Hazouri might have interest in other offices, either the Legislature or one of the Constitutional offices (SOE, Tax Collector, etc.)
Quote from: Charles Hunter on January 13, 2021, 09:47:55 AM
Of the seven Council Members who voted "No" - only DeFoor and Carlucci can run for re-election in 2023. The other five (Becton, Dennis, Ferraro, Hazouri, and Morgan) are all term-limited. My guess is that all but Hazouri might have interest in other offices, either the Legislature or one of the Constitutional offices (SOE, Tax Collector, etc.)
LOL. There aren't many offices that Tommy hasn't already held! He has also scored the trifecta of Mayor, City Council President and School Board Chair. FYI, his first elected office was in the State House so I don't see him making a run again for that.
From Wikipedia:
QuoteTommy Hazouri (born October 11, 1944) is an American politician of the Democratic Party. He currently serves as an At-Large member of the Jacksonville City Council. Previously, he served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1974 to 1986, as Mayor of Jacksonville from 1987 to 1991, and represented School District 7 in the Duval County School Board from 2004 to 2012.