CATO TOWNSHIP, Mich. — There will be three township officials up for recall on Tuesday's Montcalm County ballot.
Cato Township Supervisor Larry Gilbert, Township Clerk Todd Lincoln and Trustee Jourdan Lindsey will all be up for a recall vote come May 2.
"It's incredibly rare that we would have this kind of recall activity," Montcalm County Clerk Kristen Millard told FOX 17. "We've had a few recalls throughout the course of the years but nothing, nothing like this. In the last two years, we've had 16 township officials that have had wording filed against them."
All of the recall petitions were launched by the same woman, Jamie Snyder.
"So they file that language with my office and then we have to have a clarity [hearing] and that is the probate judge, myself as the county clerk, treasurer, have to rule on that wording and whether or not we think that wording is of sufficient clarity," Millard explained. "Once we approve the wording, then individuals can go out and start obtaining signatures."
Snyder is seeking to oust the three because of votes they cast at a August 1, 2022, board meeting.
"Once those signatures are obtained, we do the checking here in the county clerk's office against the qualified voter file so we are literally checking every signature," Millard added. "I'm very fortunate that I have a former deputy clerk that is handling most of those for me."
All three township officials who are up for recall voted to amend their zoning ordinance to allow and regulate wind energy turbines.
When voters go to make their decision at the polls, they will have to decide between the officials up for recall, and a new candidate.
You can see a Montcalm County sample ballot below:
