Panel OKs recall petition wording targeting Brown

An article by Kirk Pinho    1 Comment

Count Lisa Brown as the latest target in the rash of recall attempts going on at the state level, but she’s not tucking her tail.

Two sets of recall petition language filed against the second-term Democratic state representative — whose district covers Commerce Township, Wolverine Lake, and some of West Bloomfield Township — were approved by the Oakland County Elections Commission on Monday, Sept. 26.

The first one cites her vote against House Bill (HB) 4362 as grounds for recall. That bill was part of a legislative package that enacted the repeal of the exemption that many Michigan senior citizens enjoy on their pensions — which is now a new state law that the Michigan Supreme Court is in the process of reviewing for constitutionality.

The recall petition language reads:

“On May 12, 2011, State Representative Lisa Brown voted no on Michigan House Bill 4362.”

The second set of approved recall petition language cites her vote against HB 4214, which enacted an increased level of authority for emergency financial managers in the state and became Public Act (PA) 4 of 2011.

That language reads:

“Lisa Brown on March 15, 2011, voted no on House Bill 4214.”

Both sets of proposed recall petition language were filed by West Bloomfield Township resident David Rohtbart, who made a $1,000 contribution to the gubernatorial campaign of Gov. Rick Snyder last year and a $55 donation to the 9th District Republican Committee on June 7.

“I don’t feel she’s representing her constituency,” Rohtbart said, adding that Brown seems to be “acquiescing to the more hardcore liberal wing of the Democrats.”

He also said he feels it’s “time to fight back a little” given the slew of recall efforts under way against Republican lawmakers.

Rohtbart conceded that most recall efforts face uphill battles.

“The odds are long against a successful recall,” he said earlier today, Wednesday, Sept. 28, adding that he and the people who will be knocking on doors to collect petition signatures are “trying to send a message.”

Brown, in a release issued by the Michigan Democratic Party, vowed to appeal the Oakland County Elections Commission’s decision to approve the two sets of recall petition language. Staff in the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds office said Brown has 10 days to file the appeal, which would then go to the Oakland County Circuit Court for consideration.

“This misguided recall effort is a stark example of why our residents are outraged by what’s happening in Michigan right now,” Brown said in the statement. “Our system is broken, plain and simple. This recall effort is a distraction from the real work that needs to be done — working together to create jobs, protect education and get Michigan back on track.

“I will say it again — I heard overwhelmingly from the people who I represent that they did not want our schools and our students to pay for a tax break for corporate special interests. I stand by my decision to vote against the massive corporate tax break that came at the expense of our kids’ education. The people who I’m fighting for every day can rest assured that I plan to appeal the action taken today by the county board of elections.”

Staff in the Clerk/Register of Deeds office said 10,090 registered voter signatures — an amount equal to 25 percent of the electorate in the 39th state House District that cast ballots for governor in 2010 — are needed for a recall election to be held.

Rohtbart has 180 days from Sept. 26 to submit those 10,000-plus signatures.

Brown is now the second state lawmaker representing the lakes area facing an active recall initiative.

State Rep. Gail Haines (R-Waterford, West Bloomfield) is facing a recall effort by Waterford Township resident Neil Billington — who challenged Haines in the 2010 Republican primary election — for her vote in favor of the emergency financial manager bill that would eventually become PA 4 of 2011.