What happens during a recall?

RBC | In a “first” for Rio Blanco County, according to memory, an official recall petition seeking to remove RBC Commissioner Gary Moyer from office is currently in circulation countywide. Fourteen volunteer petitioners are tasked with collecting 747 signatures from eligible electors (anyone who is eligible to vote in the recall election if one is held) within 60 days. The number of signatures is based on 25% of votes cast in the previous general election for the office in question.

The recall petition was approved by RBC Clerk and Recorder Boots Campbell, who is the designated election official, late last week.

According to state statute, the petition must contain a general statement of 200 words or less identifying the grounds for recall.

The petition lists four reasons, or grounds, for recalling Moyer:

• Commissioner Gary Moyer verbally abused and made unsubstantiated accusations against Public Health Nurse Alice Harvey in a public meeting on Feb. 9, 2021.
• Commissioner Gary Moyer misused his power by intimidating and terminating long-term, dedicated employees and department heads without prior notice, on impulse without having any plan in place for replacing them, leaving County Departments with a leadership void and creating a fearful hostile work environment for all remaining employees.
• Commissioner Gary Moyer was instrumental in the attempt to eliminate the Rio Blanco County Dispatch Center without giving Citizens or the Sheriff the opportunity to voice their opposition or have any input on the decision.
• Commissioner Gary Moyer has repeatedly demonstrated a total lack of transparency in the manner in which he has conducted County business.

Once the petition is filed, Campbell will review all petition information and verify that each signer was registered at the address provided when they sign the petition. Signers must use the same address with which they are registered to vote. You can check your voter registration here: https://www.sos.state.co.us/voter/pages/pub/home.xhtml

Recall proponents have 15 days to “cure” any rejected entries or sections.

Once the petition has been verified, an eligible elector has 15 days to file a protest against the petition. Said protests must be filed in writing and under oath in the election official’s office. The protestor is responsible for “sustaining the protest by a preponderance of the evidence.”

Once the protest period is resolved, if the incumbent does not resign the office within five days, an election is called and an election date set. An election will incur a monetary cost to the county for printing and mailing ballots, paying election judges, and more. The clerk and recorder’s office said they can’t calculate an estimated cost at this point because every election is different.