The Government Accountability Board today approved recall elections against Republican state Senators Rob Cowles, Alberta Darling, and Sheila Harsdorf. The action does not come without controversy as organizers trying to recall Democratic lawmakers say the GAB is showing political bias.
Challenges to recall petitions exist from both political parties but the panel today only heard those targeting Republican lawmakers.
Dan Hunt says his group targeting Democrat Bob Wirch initially turned in recall petitions prior those turned in by organizers trying to recall the Republican Darling. Yet the GAB took action on Darling, while delaying action on Wirch and other Democrats Dave Hansen and Jim Holperin.
Hunt asserts the GAB is trying to sweep the issue under the rug by sending out its press release late Friday afternoon prior to a holiday weekend. David VanderLeest of Recall Dave Hansen is calling for the Board to be disbanded and its director Kevin Kennedy to step down.
Jeremy Levinson, an attorney for the Democrats, says his clients do not want delays either but says it’s “so inappropriate” to claim some type of bias here.
The GAB says the similar legal nature of the petition challenges is the reason for the grouping of the lawmakers.
