Group targets Powell supervisor for recall
Group targets Powell supervisor for recall
By SAM EGGLESTON, Journal Staff Writer
POWELL TOWNSHIP — Gene Champagne wants fellow Powell Township residents to have an opportunity on the November election to decide if township supervisor Vincent Bevins should be recalled.
A petition seeking the recall of Bevins was filed at the Marquette County Clerk’s office Tuesday by Champagne. For it to move forward, Champagne and a group of residents — called the “Committee for a Cooperative, Open and Respectful Government” — must collect 78 signatures on one day — Aug. 4.
First, however, the petition has to pass a clarity hearing on the recall’s wording, which is scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 4.
“If we pass the clarity hearing, which I believe we will, we are going to attempt to collect all 78 signatures we need in just one day,” said Champagne, a 35-year township resident. “Of course, in a small town getting people to sign on the dotted line is sometimes difficult.
“If this gets on the ballot, and once people are in the voting booth with the curtains shut, I believe it will become unanimous,” Champagne said. “It’s just a matter of getting people to step forward and then the ballot will pass by a large margin.”
According to the petition, the committee is recalling Bevins for “rude, disrespectful and verbally abusive” actions to both township board members and constitutes; refusal to cooperate with the township board; and refusal to disclose all communications with Kennecott Mineral Co. officials.
Bevins could not be reached for comment this morning.
Despite Kennecott Minerals being mentioned on the petition, Champagne said the company’s proposed sulfide mine on the Yellow Dog Plains in Powell Township had nothing to do with the recall drive.
“This is not an anti-mining recall,” he said. “We have people with opposing points of view that represent a cross-section of the township. The issues range from the lighthouse to the mining and we have opposing points of view and all of them sit on the committee. All of them support this recall.”
If the petition does not pass the clarity hearing, Champagne said the committee will rework the wording and attempt to get the recall moved to the February election.
Previous page: Grant will benefit downtown Ishpeming
Next page: Superintendent assault trial gets under way