With the first stage of California's gubernatorial fracas over today, people around the United States are asking themselves, Could it happen here?
Elsewhere, maybe, but not in Ohio.
State law allows the General Assembly to impeach governors
judges and all state officers but does not provide for a citizen-initiated recall.
California and 17 other states permit recalls, as does the District of Columbia, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In Virginia, the law allows for recall trials, but not direct elections to remove public officials.
The high visibility California recall caught the attention of dissatisfied Ohioans: In August, Rep. John Williamowski, R-Lima, told the Ohio News Network some constituents had asked about recalling Gov. Bob Taft because they were unhappy with his tax proposals and plan for closing the Lima prison. This spring, gun rights activists called for Taft's ouster when he and lawmakers differed over a concealed carry bill.
Despite citizens' grievances with Taft, Ohio Democrats do not think voters should be able to initiate a recall.
We think it would be a bad idea. The people elect their officials at the elections which are expensive
take time and resources
so those folks should be allowed to serve their term
said party spokesperson Dan Trevas.
Republicans are not so sure. State GOP chairman Robert Bennett said voters should consider a recall as a last resort, but did not oppose it in principle.
Recall in any office is a very drastic measure. You're talking about somebody who's been duly elected by the people
he said.
Bennett said Ohio voters would seldom use recalls if available.
There's a reluctance on the part of the people to recall public officials - we elected him
he should be given a chance to fail or succeed
he said.
Both parties agreed there should be some mechanism to remove state officials guilty of crimes, but that it was wrong to recall any official, not just the governor, for disagreements over policy decisions.
Unfortunately we can't be right all the time
said Rep. Jim Carmichael, R-Wooster, chairman of the House state government committee.
Carmichael said he saw no reason to change the law to allow a recall. Some laws don't help everybody
he said.
