RSSPair of Democrats seeks recall of Ensey
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- Insisting that partisan payback has nothing to do with it, two Democrats have launched a recall attempt against Yakima City Councilman Rick Ensey.
Petitioners Charlotte Jones and Gene Rupel filed recall paperwork Wednesday with the Yakima County Auditor's Office accusing Ensey of violating the state open-meetings law.
The paperwork formally sets in motion a series of legal steps that could result in a special recall election.
Jones and Rupel contend Ensey deserves to be recalled for his role in a vote to change the City Council's budget policy earlier this year.
To bolster their case, they submitted dozens of photocopies of e-mails they say proves that Ensey, along with Councilwoman Kathy Coffey and Yakima Valley Business Times publisher Bruce Smith, illegally lined up a majority of votes to change city budget policy in advance of a public meeting on April 14.
In interviews Wednesday, Jones and Rupel acknowledged being active in the local Democratic Party. They are represented by George Fearing, a Kennewick attorney and Democrat who unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Pasco, last year.
Jones and Rupel also said the e-mails were provided by Ron Bonlender, a former council member and Democratic Party activist who was defeated in 2007 by Ensey, who had the backing of the Yakima County Republican Party. Bonlender obtained the e-mails via a public records request.
Jones and Rupel insisted that partisan payback was not the driving force behind the recall effort.
"I'm a Democrat, but this was kept outside the party," said Jones, a retired state employee, adding, "A lot of the party members won't know about this until it hits the news media."
Ensey, a property manager, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Asked why the recall effort targeted Ensey but not Coffey, Rupel called the councilman "the leader of the bunch" and said Coffey had apologized for her part in the controversy.
Max Golladay, chairman of the Yakima County Republican Party, questioned why the recall effort is being started now. He noted the bad blood between Ensey and Bonlender.
"If it isn't partisan," he said, "it must be personal."
A Superior Court judge must determine whether the allegations against Ensey meet the criteria for a recall petition. A hearing date has not been scheduled.
Yakima County Auditor Corky Mattingly said recall efforts are relatively rare and successful ones are rarer still.
A recall effort aimed at Tieton Mayor Norma Joiner in the spring of 2007 was the only one she could remember in recent years. Nothing ever came of it, though voters turned out Joiner in the November general election later that year.
Regionally, Spokane Mayor Jim West was recalled in 2005 over a sex scandal. The former state Senate majority leader died months later from colon cancer.
* Chris Bristol can be reached at 509-577-7748 or cbristol@yakimaherald.com.
How to recall an elected official
Under the state Constitution, all elected officials, except judges, are subject to recall.
Any voter in the proper jurisdiction can file a charge demanding a recall. Grounds for recall are:
* Malfeasance -- wrongful conduct that interferes with the performance of official duty
* Violation of the oath of office -- the willful failure to carry out the job
The petition is first filed with the county auditor. A copy is sent to the county prosecutor, who writes the ballot language.
A Superior Court hearing is conducted to approve the ballot language and to determine whether the charge against a public official meets the standard for a recall.
If court approval is granted, petitioners can begin collecting signatures seeking a recall election. In their effort to unseat Yakima City Councilman Rick Ensey, petitioners would have to collect 4,157 signatures -- a rate equal to 25 percent of those who voted in his City Council race two years ago.
If enough signatures are collected, the recall measure is put before voters. A simple majority is required for passage.
This story has been updated to correct the percentage of signatures required in order to put a recall measure before voters.
I wish them luck with their little venture. They obviously didn't see the results of the resent primary. The Mayor has violated the open meetings act over and over, it just happens he did it in favor of liberal causes. I really look forward to the new ethics code, we'll see more of this garbage. The taxpayers get to foot the bill for Sandy & Co vicious political fun.
Report ViolationThe 4,157 signatures might still be right but the 35% figure is not. First class cities in Washington, which Yakima is, require 25%. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=29A.56.180
Report ViolationWow, and Coffey isn;'t included? How do we recall Smith? Maybe don't buy his paper?
Report ViolationThe petition to recall is a legal tool afforded to us under State of Washington law. This particular petition does not appear to be frivilous as it is based on a certain amount of hard evidence as compiled by the petitioners. The source of the evidence is really irrelevent if the evidence is ruled to be sound and the recall allowed to move forward. We will see how it plays out, and the law is ultimately designed so that the final decision rests with the voters. Isn't that how the government is suppose to work?
Report ViolationWhat will Ron Bonlender do after this effort fails? Challenge Ensey to a fist fight? They should set up a cage fighting match downtown and duke it out like men. The proceeds from admissions could go to charity and Ron might actually gain some respect in the community.
Report ViolationWhy is Bonlender getting slammed in this forum? He didn't file the suit. Yes he's a democrat, yes he requested the emails, yes he held Ensey accountable, yes there is some bad blood between the two, but from what I read this is Jones, Rupel, and Fearing. That's like blaming Bruce Smith for everything that the Republican party does.
I'm not a friend or a fan of Bonlender, but crucifying him for everything that the left does in this community is just extremely short-sighted.
(This comment has been removed by a Yakima Herald-Republic moderator)
It's about time we hold this guy accountable to the voters of Yakima! I'm glad someone had the guts to start this recall. The decision is with he citizens of Yakima, as it should be.
Report Violation"Jones and Rupel insisted that partisan payback was not the driving force behind the recall effort.
"I'm a Democrat, but this was kept outside the party," said Jones"
Bonlender, Jones, and Rupel are all Democratic Party Precint Committee Officers, so how is this being kept outside the party when they are the party?
http://www.yakimacounty.us/vote/2008-2010DEMOCRATPCOdirectory_000.pdf
Good job sjuan, you just revealed the lack of journalism in yet another Chris Bristol story. This is like the Dan Rather hit piece on George Bush where some parts were fabricated and other favorable information was intentionally left out.
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/cbs/bernard_goldberg_go_to_page_130__125269.asp
To be fair, Chris Bristol did mention that these two are "active in the local Democratic Party", but a little more detail would have been nice so we can judge for ourselves what their motivations are.
Report ViolationThis is another lame, democrat-powered smear job. They know they won't gain any ground with it but they do it so people will unfavorably remember Ensey during his re-election campaign.
Bonlender is certainly neck deep in this. That guy holds a grudge like the Count of Monte Cristo! Does anyone know what the relationship is between Chris Bristol and Ron Bonlender? How much money will Bonlender cost the city with another accusation? Are you tired of my "insidious" questions?
Only one more. Who's the puppetmaster now? Bonlender. The puppets - Jones and Rupel. Flap flap go their gums.
We need to make the "Sub Shop" synonymous with "litigious liberals"
Report ViolationSjuan, LOL. Right On!
TK, The answer to your question of Why Bonlender? - It should be obvious. His apparent attempt to hide behind someone else in this action is pretty obvious. He for sure, is cheerleading this if nothing else.
I say, if the recall petition is valid, then why isn't there q twin for Coffee? They seem to say that she is as guilty as Ensey.
I, for one, have faith that most people will see this for what it is - sour grapes - and send these liberal bullies packing.
Hell with it.........Run 'em through again......Loser PAYS
Report ViolationI think Ensey is just Bruce Smiths puppet.
Report ViolationJaeggertam says: September 7, 2009 at 2:43 amPosted by jaeggertam at 09/06/09 12:24PM Post ID#: #11944
You all are very miss-informed on the recall petition!! Ron Bonlender did not instigate this, he merely provided information WHEN ASKED for it. the people who supported him, and still support him, are the ones doing it because, number 1: Right is right and Ensey’s ethics are absolutely misserable when dong things to get his way. Number 2: he lets Bruce Smith pull his strings to get his own way of running city government without being elected to the council and last, but not least, is about as Un-honest as they come, given the fact that he covered up Bloggergate until after the election was over, knowing full well who it was, and if the truth came out before, he would have lost the election!! Mr Bonlender has done so much for the city of Yakima in the past and it’s a crying shame that he is being brought into this recall, simply because he defended his name in a suit against the defamation of character forced on him by the Ensey’s . He’s over it, it is settled but Ensey and his supporters cannot let this die. so, who is using Partisan Politics on this??? An WHO won't let this die??? Every time Ensey is called on the carpet for his actions, he blames it on Bonlender. Quit crying Wolf, and step up to the plate and face the facts that what you did was wrong!! Bondlender did not make you and Bruce Smith and the others do what you did. It was your decision, now live with it and let the city of Yakima get back to the REAL business of being a GREAT AMERICAN CITY!!!
Report Violation
Posted by Knok at 09/06/09 01:26PM Post ID#: #11945
jaeggertam
great post,
finally someonee with a brain sets the record straight.
the Enseys started the whole matter, now lets see how it will ends.
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