Republican Senator Files Bill to Create Uniform Recall Process in Tennessee
Recalls are pretty rare in Tennessee. The last one that even came close to a vote was in Chattanooga in 2012, and, even then, a judge ultimately prevented a vote from happening.
Recalls should be very, very rare, Sen. Adam Lowe (R-Calhoun) said. When recalls happen for elected officials, it should be where there really is broad consensus that someone has been improper and needs to step away from office, and that individual has not voluntarily done such.
But now, Lowe has filed a new bill set to create a uniform recall process throughout the state for non-constitutional public officials. It does not include people like the governor, secretary of state, the attorney general, or any county leadership. Instead, it would deal with city leadership or school boards.
I don’t know why we would exclude mayors or legislators from the same accountability that you’re putting on everybody else, Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) questioned.
Lowe said the bill was inspired by an incident in his district. He stated, Back home, I’ve got a city councilperson right now that’s lost a professional license, has been banned from local institutions, and is facing some legal issues around inappropriate behavior. That would be a good opportunity for a recall, should they choose not to resign.
Under the bill, the threshold for triggering a recall vote is set high. If it passes, you’ll have to get 20% of registered voters to sign off, which may not seem like a large number. But take Nashville, for example, you’d have to garner well over 130,000 signatures to initiate a recall vote.
Still, the bill has Democrats cautious, particularly due to the rise in polarization over school boards in the past three years. We have seen a level of shenanigans and foolishness that isn’t helping any kid anywhere, Yarbro expressed.
Yarbro didn’t explicitly state whether he was against the bill, but he is treading cautiously. I’m not necessarily opposed to having recalls, Yarbro said. But I don’t think that we should be creating new pathways for mischief.
When asked if he was expecting blowback on the bill, Lowe laughed and replied, A bunch, especially from those it would impact the most.
The bill aims to streamline and provide a standardized process for recalling local public officials. By implementing this uniform recall process, Lowe hopes to hold non-constitutional public officials accountable for their actions and maintain the integrity of their positions.
Recalls should only occur in exceptional cases where there is a broad consensus that an elected official has behaved improperly and should step away from their position. The bill is seen as an opportunity to address instances of inappropriate behavior or misconduct among city leadership or school boards, ensuring these officials are held responsible for their actions.
However, concerns have been raised by some Democrats, who worry about the potential for misuse and mischief through this new pathway. Recent polarization surrounding school boards has prompted caution, and the focus remains on finding a balance between accountability and avoiding unnecessary conflict.
While it may seem relatively straightforward to gather 20% of registered voters’ signatures, it is vital to recognize the considerable number required for heavily populated areas such as Nashville. Over 130,000 signatories would be needed to trigger a recall vote in the city, making the process far from easy.
As the bill moves forward, its proponents and critics will continue to engage in passionate discussion regarding its merits and potential consequences. With the ultimate goal of maintaining trust in public officials, Tennessee will soon decide whether a uniform recall process should be established for non-constitutional public officials, providing a standardized method for holding them accountable.
