Ralph Kimble recall, Branch County, Michigan (2018)
| Branch County Prosecutor recall |
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An effort to recall Ralph Kimble from his position as the Branch County prosecutor in Michigan began in January 2018. The effort was initiated by Coldwater residents Alexia and Steven Rish over sexual misconduct allegations. Kimble denied the allegations and said that he would fight the recall. After initially rejecting a recall petition on January 30, 2018, the Michigan Board of Canvassers approved the resubmitted recall language on February 13, 2018.[1][2] The recall did not go to a vote because signatures were not submitted by the deadline.[3]
Former county employee Evon Staley filed a lawsuit against Kimble and the county in October 2017, claiming that she had been fired after complaining about being sexually harassed by Kimble. Kimble said Staley was fired because she was illegally growing marijuana at her home. Staley was indicted on felony charges of growing marijuana in October 2017.[4]
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette (R) opened an investigation into Kimble for criminal sexual conduct, and a panel of Branch County judges who investigated Kimble found that he had violated professional standards and the Civil Rights Act. In December 2017, local media accessed a report showing that the Michigan State Police had sought criminal sexual conduct charges against Kimble, but he was not charged because a key witness did not cooperate.[5]
Recall supporters
Below are the reasons for the recall, as stated in the recall petition that was approved by the Board of State Canvassers.[2]
| " | In consideration of the recent consensus/News Release of ALL of the local judges of Branch County in their combined request for the necessity of an official Investigation of Ralph W. Kimble II by the Michigan Attorney General and the Michigan State Police concerning alleged improprieties engaged in by the Chief County Prosecutor in the discharge of his official duties; and in consideration that Ralph W. Kimble II has been named as a Defendant in an ongoing lawsuit alleging sexual Harassment in the Branch County Courthouse by a former employee of the Branch County Prosecutor's office: We, the undersigned, request a RECALL of Ralph W. Kimble II as Branch County Prosecutor.[6] | ” |
Recall opponents
Kimble's response
After being served with recall papers, Kimble said he would fight the petition and the recall. He denied the allegations in Staley's lawsuit, calling them ridiculous. "I never wanted anything to do with her. The only hostility in the office was from her toward other employees," he said.[4]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Michigan
In Michigan, a "clarity and factual" hearing must be held before recall proponents can begin collecting signatures. Recall petitions targeting state and county officers (except county commissioners) must be filed with the Board of State Canvassers (BSC) prior to circulation. The BSC held a hearing on January 30, 2018, to determine whether the recall petition was clear and factual. The BSC decided the language was not sufficiently clear and factual, and rejected the recall petition.[1] The petition was changed and resubmitted, and the BSC approved the second version on February 13, 2018.[2]
Proponents needed to collect 2,858 valid signatures in 60 days in order to trigger a recall election. The number of signatures was equal to 25 percent of the total votes cast in Branch County in the last gubernatorial election.[5] Signatures were not turned in by the deadline.[3]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Daily Reporter, "Kimble recall rejected by Board of Canvassers," January 31, 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 MLive, "Recall petition approved for prosecutor accused of sexual harassment," February 13, 2018
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 WTVB, "Recall effort against Prosecutor Kimble ends," May 3, 2018
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Daily Reporter, "Staley sues, Kimble denies sexual harassment," November 9, 2017
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 WWMT.com, "Recall effort underway against Branch County Prosecutor Ralph Kimble," January 19, 2018
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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