Though Supervisor Dave Wagner thinks ‘it’s unfortunate,? third time was a charm for recall efforts against him.
‘I think perseverance pays off, for whatever it’s worth,? said Joel DeLong, new treasurer of Citizens Against Independence Township Waste. ‘It at least says we addressed the issues that needed to be done and we’re in the next step.?
CAITW President Mike Powell agreed.
‘It’s been far too long,? Powell said. ‘It’s nice to have this part under our belt.?
The commission voted 3-0, Jan. 21, to approve petition language calling for Wagner’s recall due to bonus payments made to employees, car allowance increases, and money spent on architectural work for a new police substation.
‘Once again I’m disappointed, but the way the law reads is the way the law is, we all have to live up to it,? said Wagner. ‘It’s a shame when you have an attorney presenting this language knowing it’s not factual and it doesn’t have to be factual to get approval to be on a ballot or a petition.?
Wagner said he and his supporters will ‘more than likely? appeal to circuit court.
‘This was all stuff approved by the prior board. Those guys know it and it doesn’t make any difference,? he said. ‘They can do what they want, even if the architectural fees weren’t approved by a prior board it was within my discretionary spending as supervisor to do this.?
DeLong said ‘garnering more support? as they go along and more people are listening, but the main goal will be to educate people and ‘ultimately let the people decide.?
“It’s (a recall) one of the few times I can say people have a way of correcting or making changes in government that you couldn’t make at a state or a federal level at any point and time because your voice wouldn’t be heard,? DeLong said. ‘It would be like a grain of sand on an ocean beach.?
The next step will be to collect 4,000 signatures in 90 days, which they started last Saturday. The goal is to submit the petitions in time to piggyback on the August primary, so there will be no cost to township taxpayers.
‘Hopefully it will go before the voters and we can let them decide, that’s what’s it is all about,? Powell said. ‘Even if you’re not for the recall, why not sign the thing and get it back out there and say ‘OK let’s see whether or not people think he should be voted out office.??
For more information visit www.recallwagner.com.