MAUMEE, Ohio (WTVG) - A citizen-led effort to clean house in Maumee is officially underway. The petition to recall the mayor and six council members after multiple issues within the city have been filed.
13 Action News spoke with one of the organizers of the recall petitions who said, as citizens, they feel like they’re not being heard and it’s time for a change.
Nearly 14,000 signatures were submitted to the Lucas County Board of Elections Thursday to remove Mayor James MacDonald and six council members from their positions.
The Board of Elections needs to verify the signatures in the next 10 days. If verified, the recall effort will go to the voters during the city’s primary election on Sept. 9.
This comes after the citizens behind the recall said they have problems with a lack of transparency and distrust, along with how city sewer issues were handled.
“In the last four years, the way that business has been conducted, seems to have an ongoing disregard for what the public sentiment is,” said lifelong Maumee resident Dana Johnson.
Johnson said over the last few years, he feels like he hasn’t been heard as a citizen.
“These people are hired to represent us, and a lot of people do not feel like they’re being represented or even taken into consideration with a lot of major, major decisions that impact everybody,” said Johnson.
Tom Tschabold feels the same way.
“Unfortunately I think it was a necessary thing. We weren’t given a chance. They just simply wouldn’t listen, they’re not addressing the citizens’ concerns,” said Tschabold.
He hopes with a recall, they can make Maumee a more desirable place to live.
“I think we have a responsibility to give the children the city that we grew up in. A city with opportunity, a place they can afford to raise a family. We had a fantastic school district. We have so many good things about this community. And it’s not just one person’s vision of what it needs to be. We have a whole city. And we need to get together and answer that question. Let’s get it where we need it to be,” said Tschabold.
One person 13 Action News spoke to said they are against the recall and think everyone should stay in office. We reached out to Mayor MacDonald and city council members who are being recalled and none of them were available for comment.
However, earlier this week, the mayor told 13 Action News that the people asking for this recall are misinformed and invites them to ask more questions.
If you’d like to learn more information, Johnson encourages you to check out the Maumee Matters Facebook page.
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