The Herenton Recall: Thaddeus Matthews, Email This Blog

This story, from the Commercial Appeal, identifies local radio host Thaddeus Matthews as the source of the Herenton recall drive. Some other stories on local television news seem to back that up.

If anyone knows Mr. Matthews, please have him email this blog at the addy up on the left. Thanks! I'd like to get a copy of the petition signature page up on the Internet for anyone to download and start filling up.

FRIDAY 1PM UPDATE Thanks to James in comments for pointing me to this story in the Memphis Business Journal about the recall. It has some basic data on the legal requirements. Relevant quotes:

Thaddeus Matthews, a former local radio talk show host, has contacted Lunt about mounting a recall drive, saying he is frustrated by the lack of fiscal management and Herenton's proposal to yank $86 million in funding to city schools to balance the city's budget....

According to section 7 of the home rule amendment of the Memphis City Charter, if a "number of qualified voters equal to ten per centum of the total number of votes cast in the last municipal election for the office of Mayor and filed with the Election Commission (provided that no such petition shall be filed during the first two years of his term), the Election Commission shall call an election at the time of the next General Election after the filing of such petition at which said election the question will be: 'Shall the mayor be recalled?'

"If a number of voters equal to a majority of those voting on the question shall vote to recall the Mayor, the office shall be vacated when the Election Commission shall declare the results."

On Oct. 9, 2003, Herenton became the first mayor in the history of the city of Memphis to be elected to a fourth consecutive term. His fourth term began Jan. 1, 2004.

According to the Memphis Shelby County Election Commission, 69,571 voters cast ballots for mayor in the 2003 election. That means anyone wanting to place the recall question on the ballot would need just under 7,000 signatures on a petition that could be delivered to the Election Commission as early as Jan. 2, 2006....

Because the wording in the charter says the recall question could be placed on the ballot in the next general election, instead of specifying a municipal election, the recall question could appear on the Nov. 7, 2006 ballot.

If a majority of the voters say the mayor should be recalled, the "office shall be vacated when the Election Commission shall declare the results, and shall immediately be occupied by the person so designated to succeed the Mayor in case of his death, inability for any reason to serve, or resignation."

In the case of death, inability to serve or resignation, the chairman of the City Council would ascend to the top executive position in city government on an interim basis. That person would then serve until a special election could be held, according to council administrator Lisa Geater.

Uh, oh. That would be this guy, at the moment. Mayor Ed Ford? Erk!