POLK GOP BATTLE REACHES NEW LEVEL WITH POSSIBLE RECALL

John Long of Davenport is threatening a petition drive to recall four County Commissioners --- all fellow Republicans --- who have voted to support a record property tax hike.

The Lakeland Ledger reports this morning that Long sent an e-mail to the newspaper advising that he and his attorney were studying the process for a petition drive, which they hope would result in a recall vote for four of the five commissioners. Only Commissioner Randy Wilkinson, who has cast the lone vote opposing any tax increase, would be spared.

Commissioners are scheduled to cast a final vote tomorrow following a second public hearing to increase property taxes for all taxpayers one mill ($1 for every $1,000 of taxable value) for road construction and maintainence, and for residents in unincorporated Polk County one-half mill for parks and recreation and one-quarter mill to support the county library system. Before their first official vote last week commissioners agreed to reduce the amount of the increase for parks and libraries.

The Polk County Republican Executive Committee voted to send letters of reprimand to the four commissioners who have favoured the increase. The law governing recall of municipal and county officeholders in a charter county such as Polk is complex, as the Ledger describes:

Municipal officials and elected officials of a charter county can face a recall election if opponents allege one of the following conditions:

Malfeasance or misfeasance in office, neglect of duty, drunkenness, incompetence, a permanent inability to perform official duties, or conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude.

A separate recall petition must be prepared for each person being recalled and must include specific grounds for recall of no more than 200 words.

In addition, there actually are two petition drives before a recall vote can be placed on the ballot.

In the first drive, the supporters of recall must obtain 5 percent of the total number of registered electors of the municipality or district. With 301,308 voters in Polk County, supporters of the recall would need 15,065 voter signatures.

Once certified by the supervisor of elections, the clerk of court then would notify each commissioner of the petitions and give each five days to respond. That response then is combined with the initial grounds for recall under "Recall Petition and Defense," which then is circulated among voters. The law requires that 15 percent of the electorate, or 45,196 Polk voters, sign that petition.

When those signatures have been verified, the date for an election is set.

Never thought I would see Republicans go this far against their own.

U P D A T E : May as well say the war is on: The commission gave final approval to the property tax hike just before midnight Thursday by the same 4-1 vote.

U P D A T E II (Saturday, October 1): I recieved a message from Mr. Long noting my error in identifying him as Chairman of the Polk County Republican Executive Committee. Mr. Eric Allen is serving in that position for his second year...something I should have remembered. The reference has been removed, and my thanks to Mr. Long for the correction. Was probably just up late the night before.