(Source: MIRS.news, Published 07/17/23) Recalls have been filed against five members of the House Democratic majority - Reps. Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte), Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City), Jennifer Conlin (D-Ann Arbor), Sharon MacDonell (D-Troy) and Reggie Miller (D-Belleville) - for their votes on extreme risk protection order (ERPO) legislation and bills to strengthen Michigan's Hate Crimes statute.
Republican Rep. Cam Cavitt (R-Cheboygan) also reported a recall petition filed against him.
Based on submitted petition language obtained by MIRS, both Coffia and MacDonell are being recalled for votes on
HB 4145, a bill designed to give judges and law enforcement the power to temporarily take away firearms from someone perceived to be a threat to themselves or others, using ERPOs.
The bill passed on April 13 with a 56-51 vote in favor, including all five Democrats facing recall.
Reps. Churches, Conlin and Miller are facing recall for their votes on HB 4474 on June 20, a bill to expand Michigan's 1988 Ethnic Intimidation Statute and change definitions for "ethnic intimidation" to "hate crime," which is meant to extend the statute to other protected categories like sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability and age.
The bill passed, 59-50, with restorative justice provisions added in.
Miller said she takes the recall effort very seriously but said it won't affect how she represents her constituents, and added that she doesn't regret voting for increased protection against hate crimes, nor would she change her vote if given the chance.
"Would I change my vote if I had to do it over again? Absolutely not," she said.
Her voting record reflects what the majority of her constituents believe, Miller said.
She added that HB 4474 only strengthens existing laws, and the package includes protections for places of worship in addition to strengthening other protected categories.
"The law is being misrepresented on purpose," Miller said, referencing several national news articles that reported misgendering an individual could be prosecuted under the bill package, which the bill sponsor said "clearly lacks any foundation in journalistic ethics."
House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) said Michigan has "seen campaigns based on misinformation and lies used to challenge the integrity of our elections and mount an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. We know that those who purposely misrepresent facts have ulterior motives and do not represent the majority of voters.
"Michigan's recall law is an important option available to citizens when it is necessary to hold elected officials accountable for wrongdoing," Tate said. "The law is not a tool to overturn the will of the majority of voters."
He said House Democrats take seriously any recall effort, and "will fully support and defend those targeted. We will continue to put the people of Michigan first."
House Democratic Spokesperson Amber McCann said all but MacDonell have received notice of filings from the Board of Canvassers, which will meet Aug. 1 to consider the legal sufficiency of the recall effort.
Board of Canvassers Chair Mary Ellen Gurewitz said the Board is required to have a hearing between 10 and 20 calendar days, and has to "determine whether a statement is clear and accurate."
All five petitions expressly state the yes votes on HB 4145 and HB 4474 were the driving factors for the recall.
Coffia's recall has Traverse City resident Barbara Willing listed as circulator, with no date expressly listed on the petition. Conlin's was circulated by Linda Ensley, a Brighton resident, on July 12.
Miller's recall circulator is listed as Milan resident Holli E. Vallade, who filed July 12. Vallade ran as a Republican in 2022 for the 31st District House seat, but lost to Republican Dale Biniecki in the Republican primary with 36% of the vote.
Wyandotte resident Sebastian Palamarn circulated Churches' petition on July 12. MacDonell's was circulated by Michael T. Ross, a Troy resident, on July 14.
Palamarn was contacted by MIRS and confirmed that he filed Churches' petition, but declined to comment further.
None of the other petition circulators listed were able to be reached for comment.
In addition to the five Democrats, Republican Cavitt is also the focus of a recall effort, which he called "partisan tactics aimed at serving the interests of one political faction rather than addressing the critical priorities of my district and our state.
"Do not let these ploys fool you. When I talk to my constituents, I'm talking to them about addressing their priorities in Lansing – that's my focus – not recalls that serve to help Democrats expand their majority," Cavitt said. "If you've followed my politics, you know I'm not interested in political gamesmanship. I'm focused on delivering what really matters for the communities I represent."
Cavitt said those priorities include fixing the roads, increasing police funding and adopting a fiscally responsible budget, which he said went missing from the Fiscal Year 2024 budget just passed.
"This recall would only help provide them the opportunity to continue abusing their power," Cavitt said. "By diverting time, resources and attention towards this effort, we risk hampering progress and hindering the efficient functioning of our government."
Since 2007, 76 legislators have faced recall attempts; even though petition language was approved in more than half the cases, organizers only received the necessary signatures to put the recall question on the ballot twice, and only one recall was successful.
The lone successful petition was former Rep. Paul Scott, who was recalled in 2011 prior to a 2012 law that tightened the window of when signatures could be collected from 90 to 60 days.
Since then, the number of attempts has dropped from 70 between 2007 and 2012 to six between 2013 and 2022.
If petition language is approved, the number of signatures to get a legislator's recall on the ballot is 25% of the gubernatorial votes collected in the legislator's district during the last election.
