Auditor–RSD Reminder 3 “Separate” Petitions, Have Its Own Requirement
Perhaps a ripple in the efforts of those trying to recall 3 members of the Richland School Board?
Each petition is its own separate entity
While some might think there’s “one” big petition to recall Misipati Semi Bird, Audra Byrd and Kari Wiliams, there isn’t.
A judge recently ruled the recall effort could go ahead, the petitioners claim various alleged ‘laws’ were broken by the three board members, including claiming they unlawfully staged a vote to make masks optional in the RSD.
According to the Benton County Auditor, Division of Elections, each of the three petitions is being handled separately. Supporters must collect their own signature requirements, which are 25% of each member’s vote in their most recent election.
For example, Semi Bird received 11,196 votes, so petitioners would need to get 25% of those votes to sign. But these will not count in the petitions that Audra Byrd and Kari Williams are facing. In the case of Semi Bird, 25% of 11,196 represents 2,799 signatories.
Audra Byrd got 11,385, so this petition would require a similar number. Williams, who was elected in 2019, scored 9,983.
This means that petition supporters will need to get 3 different petitions signed.