By Leanne Cloudman

Staff Reporter

Lcloudman@yadkinripple.com

“Public outcry” is the reason given by Rep. Darrell McCormick for his drafting and filing of HB 675 on March 18. Generally, the bill, simply being referred to as the “Recall Bill” locally, provides a remedy whereby an affidavit may be executed by a registered voter of Yadkin County containing the name of an elected official whose removal is sought. The affidavit must also contain a general statement of the grounds alleged for removal.

The affidavit will have to be filed with the county board of elections along with a petition. These documents must be filed by registered voter.

A petition must accompany the affidavit containing at least the signatures of as many registered voters of the county as the number of votes cast for the candidate subject to recall in the previous general election.

The board of elections shall investigate the sufficiency of any petition and certify the results of the investigation to the board of commissioners.

After additional administrative action, once a petition is determined sufficient, the board of elections will submit the petition to the clerk of the board of commissioners, who shall submit it to the board of commissioners and shall notify the officer whose removal is sought. If the officer whose removal is sought does not resign within five days after receiving the notice, the board of commissioners shall order and fix a date for holding a recall election.

The bill is very specific regarding the procedure that will be required for any action to take place.

It should be noted that the text of the bill may be changed prior to its return to the house of representatives.

In an interview on Tuesday morning, McCormick said that the state budget would certainly take precedence over action on this bill and no time frame for action on this bill is being speculated on.

“I had been overwhelmed with requests to file this bill,” said McCormick. “I don’t feel as though the people are being heard. I carefully drafted the bill so that it cannot be used recklessly.”

As of press time, the bill had passed the house on first reading and had been passed to the Elections and Campaign reform committee.