House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles. (Associated Press)
Efforts to recall Kleckley, Jindal continue
Last Modified: Friday, June 01, 2012 7:59 PM
By Andrew Perzo / American Press
Though they’re unsure how many people have signed their petitions so far, the leaders of efforts to remove Gov. Bobby Jindal and House Speaker Chuck Kleckley from office believe they’ll have enough signatures to force recall elections when they turn in the papers this fall.
“We can only estimate at this time. So many people have petitions and are walking their neighborhoods that we do not have a count for today,” recall chairmen Angie Bonvillain and Brenda Romero wrote in a joint statement Wednesday.
“Our tireless and dedicated volunteers are out there working, so the number changes constantly. It’s an amazing thing to watch.”
Organizers have until Sept. 19 to get the signatures of a third of registered voters in the affected areas. That works out to about 940,000 signatures for the Jindal petition, circulated statewide, and 9,000 for the recall of Kleckley in District 36.
The efforts officially began March 22 when Bonvillain, Romero and fellow Barbe High School teacher Anne Reeves — angered by the governor’s education reform initiative — filed the petitions with the Secretary of State’s Office.
“We started the recalls primarily because we tried repeatedly to give input to Kleckley about ideas for education reform that were not as radical as those proposed,” Bonvillain and Romero wrote.
“We wanted reform, but the right kind of reform, and we grew frustrated when our attempts to reach our representative were thwarted. We felt the only way to be heard was to file the recall petitions.”
Bonvillain and Romero are confident the petitions will — unlike many such efforts — be certified by the voter registrar, who will compare the signatures and names with voter registration records. The registrar will have 20 days to analyze the Jindal petition and 15 days to check the Kleckley petition.
If the petitions are OK’d, the governor will order a recall election for District 36 and the secretary of state will order one for the governor. Officials who lose recall elections must vacate their positions once the ballot results are certified by the secretary of state.
“If the people are not satisfied with their politicians, they can recall them before the next election,” Bonvillain wrote. “It doesn’t take money, it doesn’t take power, it takes signatures. We want your signatures.”
NOTE: Recall supporters will hold a petition-signing event June 9 at Stellar Beans on Broad Street and at the School Street practice fields, behind Coyote Blues. For more information, visit www.recallbobbyjindal.com or call 263-0688.
FACTBOX
The last elected official successfully recalled in Louisiana was Spearsville Alderman Harold Allbritton, who was voted out
last year. No state official has been recalled in the last 4 1/2 decades.
Past area recall efforts and their results:
• Jennings Mayor J.W. Watson, 1970 — recalled.
• Jennings Streets and Parks Commissioner Roy Constant, 1970 — effort failed.
• Jennings Finance Commissioner J. Horace Arceneaux, 1970 — effort failed.
• Allen Parish Police Juror John Porteau Jr., 1974 — recalled.
• Oakdale Alderman Rick Merchant, 1977 — effort failed.
• Beauregard Parish School Board member Lloydell Iles, 1992 — effort failed.
• Cameron Parish School Board member William Morris, 2001 — recalled.
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office.
Posted By: Alicia Breaux On: 6/1/2012
Title: Veritas
Read the truth about Jindal's school "reform" scheme in the recent Washington Post article titled "A scary (and telling) school voucher story". LA is the only state with a governor and legislature crooked enough to vote against our children's best interests. With Kleckley's help Jindal has destroyed public education to funnel tax revenue to his fat cat friends. Below is the link. Don't be fooled by slick ads and propaganda paid for by schools-for-profit interests.. Jindal and Kleckley's "reforms" divert tax revenue into church, private and corporate coffers. Highly illegal. RECALL THE BUMS.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/a-scary-and-telling-school-voucher-story/2012/05/31/gJQAxRgE4U_blog.html?wprss=rss_national
Posted By: bob On: 6/1/2012
Title: where can i sign
sign me up pal
Get Social With Us!
+Share