By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS – Efforts to remove five members of Cassopolis Village Council were stymied Wednesday when the Cass County Election Commission rejected proposed recall language as too vague.
Clerk-Register Barbara Wilson said all five submissions were determined to be "not clear or concise."
Such language must be precise enough so it can be understood by voters and so the targeted official can respond.
A clarity hearing does not address whether or not allegations are true or have any merit.
Reasons given for the recall attempt include:
Michelle Andrews has used poor judgment in her leadership role as village board president.
Village Trustee Timothy A. Swenor has made decisions without input from citizens that are affected.
Village Trustee Walter Malone Jr. has been directly opposed to the village board president and other board trustees in their attempt to keep village government closed and unchanged.
Village Trustee Clare L. Mallo has made decisions without input from citizens that are affected.
Wilson serves on the panel along with Judge Susan Dobrich and county Treasurer Linda Irwin.
They made the ruling late Wednesday morning in Dobrich's courtroom at the Law and Courts Building.
The recall effort was brought by Shirley Hawkins, wife of council member Vince Hawkins.
Ironically, Andrews, Malone and Swenor came to the council because of an August 2005 recall which ousted former village president Julia Bell and two trustees, Maxine Snipes and William Curry.