To be valid, the application has to meet three criteria, City Clerk Steven Cunningham said. It must have a contact person and an alternate. It must be signed by 10 residents registered to vote in Houston. And it must include a statement in 200 words or less about the grounds of recall.
The first two requirements are cut and dry, Cunningham said, and the application passed those criteria. The state statute for recalls, however, says the grounds must be stated with particularity, enough to show specific instances of misconduct or incompetence.
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Cunningham said the statutes do not define exactly what constitutes the right level of particularity. There are precedents set by case law, however, so Cunningham said he will turn the application over to the city’s attorney for review.
If the attorney concludes the 199-word statement included in the application shows particular grounds for recall, Cunningham will prepare the petition to give the contact person on the application. That person will then have 60 days to gather enough signatures of registered voters to equal 25 percent of the ballots cast in the most recent election. In Houston, this means 73 names.
If the petition is valid, the voters will have the opportunity to oust the mayor by a simple majority.


Comments
100 comment(s)Give it up wrote on Feb 28, 2010 2:04 AM:
chance_giver wrote on Feb 27, 2010 11:09 PM:
Repeated calls for the mayor's head is an expression of something so singularly un-American, it should be disallowed on this forum. My gorge rises at the sight of such abundant simpleness.
An underpaid and under-appreciated mayor delivers a grant application for the benefit of his domain, and a bombastic segment insists on quibbling.
No charges filed, yet "HE'S GUILTY?" For SHAME! "
houston resident wrote on Feb 27, 2010 11:47 AM:
Stormy wrote on Feb 27, 2010 10:36 AM:
chance_giver wrote on Feb 26, 2010 5:56 PM:
Some of you tried. You "ATTEMPTED." "Failed." "Lost."
Time to "surrender." "Give up." "Pack it in." "Concede."
Congratulations, Mayor Purcell. You outpatienced them. You've earned your job and deserve to keep it. Bless you. "
Support the Clerk wrote on Feb 26, 2010 2:49 AM:
Stormy wrote on Feb 25, 2010 10:51 PM:
Houston Resident wrote on Feb 25, 2010 8:30 PM:
The Man wrote on Feb 25, 2010 2:25 PM:
stormy wrote on Feb 25, 2010 10:52 AM:
if it works wrote on Feb 24, 2010 11:00 PM:
Must be nice when a city can ignore the will of the people and feels the people are not smart enough to go and vote for change or vote to keep things the same if that is what they will. "
chance_giver wrote on Feb 24, 2010 7:50 PM:
Silence is golden, but my eyes still see
Silence is golden, golden, but my eyes still see...
Thank you, Frankie Vali and your 4 wonderful Seasons.
Silence is golden, golden... "
houston resident wrote on Feb 24, 2010 1:07 PM:
Houston Citizen wrote on Feb 24, 2010 10:28 AM:
chance_giver wrote on Feb 23, 2010 9:46 PM:
houston resident wrote on Feb 23, 2010 4:32 PM:
Houston Citizen wrote on Feb 23, 2010 3:31 PM:
Houston Citizen wrote on Feb 23, 2010 12:08 PM:
Cast stones in glass house wrote on Feb 23, 2010 10:30 AM:
alaskaveritas wrote on Feb 22, 2010 11:33 PM:
Hey I'm with you on this one. I think that we can swing a deal. You can have Roger Purcell in trade for say, two chickens and a pig. This would replace what we have on the council - two chickens and a mayor. "
chance_giver wrote on Feb 22, 2010 9:47 PM:
The Mayor is here to stay. Thank goodness. "
SandyM wrote on Feb 19, 2010 5:11 PM:
Hope they can afford him after Houston gets ................cleaned out...............
Oh I mean cleaned up. "
To Fred in Crapper Creek wrote on Feb 19, 2010 11:52 AM:
" I wish we had a strong public servant here in Trapper Creek, to run the Community Council. "
I fixed it for you.
Roger is not a strong PUBLIC SERVANT.
He is a crook, a swine, a law-breaker, a bad councilman, and a TERRIBLE mayor.
That, Freddy, is the truth. "
I LIKE ROGER wrote on Feb 19, 2010 7:57 AM:
good if all the "Roger haters" and "legal experts" would sign their names so we could send them typing and spelling programs!
FRED AGREE, Petersville Road "
Clock watcher wrote on Feb 18, 2010 6:22 AM:
Timekeeper wrote on Feb 17, 2010 12:44 PM:
houston resident wrote on Feb 17, 2010 9:15 AM:
FormerEmployee wrote on Feb 17, 2010 1:10 AM:
Thank you! "
Stormy wrote on Feb 16, 2010 11:32 PM:
recall wrote on Feb 16, 2010 6:47 PM:
Houston Citizen wrote on Feb 16, 2010 4:10 PM:
FormerCouncil wrote on Feb 16, 2010 1:08 AM:
Houston was a happy, positive community with hopes and dreams before Purcell showed up in 2007. We can get that back. The time is NOW!!! "
Previous Mayor wrote on Feb 14, 2010 8:43 PM:
Palmer Farm wrote on Feb 14, 2010 2:11 PM:
Charlie wrote on Feb 14, 2010 2:04 PM:
Commuter watchin my mirror wrote on Feb 14, 2010 1:58 PM:
Eradication wrote on Feb 14, 2010 1:07 PM:
smurf wrote on Feb 13, 2010 11:06 PM:
Last time I checked lawerys are not cheep? "
MeadowLakers wrote on Feb 13, 2010 9:57 AM:
alaskaveritas wrote on Feb 12, 2010 9:25 PM:
The city attorney is not responsible for rejecting or accepting the petition for recall. That is the City Clerk's job. Now he can consult wiht an attorney, but if the clerk finds that it is incomplete, be sure that a lawsuit will be filed in the State Superior Court. Based upon information that I gained from DCRA, I am sure that the judge will most likely find the petition complete and sufficient. "
Gary C. wrote on Feb 12, 2010 7:21 PM:
hey roger I mean chance_giver wrote on Feb 12, 2010 7:06 PM:
Houston Citizen wrote on Feb 12, 2010 3:33 PM:
Previous Mayor Houston wrote on Feb 12, 2010 2:30 PM:
chance_giver wrote on Feb 12, 2010 2:23 PM:
HouatonJulia wrote on Feb 12, 2010 2:19 PM:
Idea wrote on Feb 12, 2010 2:13 PM:
Answer: pay attention, folks...
SUE THE MUNICIPALITY OF HOUSTON AND THE ATTORNEY FOR ERRORS AND OMMISSIONS.
That's right, class-action lawsuit. The claim, you ask?
The city and attorney are not acting on behalf of the constituents. Easy to prove- since so much abuse of power and policy/legalities are being committed.
Go to the District court in Palmer. File suit against the city.
Done. "
houston resident wrote on Feb 12, 2010 2:10 PM:
houston resident wrote on Feb 12, 2010 2:05 PM:
Rjected wrote on Feb 12, 2010 2:03 PM:
Meadow Lakes Madman wrote on Feb 12, 2010 1:03 PM:
chance_giver wrote on Feb 12, 2010 12:36 PM:
I. Rest. My. Case.
Swift and sweet justice. YES! "
why wrote on Feb 12, 2010 12:23 PM:
SallyJoe wrote on Feb 12, 2010 12:03 PM:
Impersonating wrote on Feb 12, 2010 11:27 AM:
Hybrid wrote on Feb 12, 2010 9:53 AM:
Give him a chance wrote on Feb 12, 2010 9:16 AM:
to No chance wrote on Feb 12, 2010 9:08 AM:
My question is where is the state autorney. How many laws can he break and still walk free.
1. inpersinating a police officerr.
2.theft of houston money...plane tickets
3. pergery lieing agout the meeting
any body else would be in jail
hey STATE AUTORNEY WHERE ARE YOU? "
Ha wrote on Feb 12, 2010 9:08 AM:
To Braindead wrote on Feb 12, 2010 9:05 AM:
BACK TO THE BOROUGH wrote on Feb 12, 2010 8:38 AM:
to chance_giver wrote on Feb 12, 2010 8:37 AM:
you break laws.
you tussell with staff.
you ignore policies.
you're outta here.
get it? "
No Chance wrote on Feb 12, 2010 8:01 AM:
HoustonJulia wrote on Feb 12, 2010 7:46 AM:
Houston Citizen wrote on Feb 12, 2010 7:37 AM:
Patriot wrote on Feb 12, 2010 7:20 AM:
chance_giver wrote on Feb 12, 2010 7:19 AM:
WOW wrote on Feb 12, 2010 6:47 AM:
I guess it's ok to break the law as long as it is saving money?
The last time someone broke into my shop it must have saved someone money? I'm sure it made the pawnshop money as well as the theif...but thats ok right?
You and chance_giver can go with roger when he leaves...Alaska doesen't need or want YOU! "
JonT wrote on Feb 12, 2010 12:25 AM:
braindead should quiet their bantor lest they get roger in more trouble, though your remark shows where you live.. certainly nowhere where there is law. "
Stormy wrote on Feb 12, 2010 12:18 AM:
chance_giver wrote on Feb 11, 2010 10:46 PM:
Valley Girl wrote on Feb 11, 2010 10:30 PM:
I'd check out whether he drove the fire truck 'lights and siren' driving it up from outside. And WHY is Houston paying for his and his wife's vacations??
Time for old Roger to dodge his way out of town. He has too much bad baggage.
Too bad the 'old days' of running somebody out of town on a rail with tar and feathers is over. Might have been a Kodak (or U-tube) moment. "
houston be gone wrote on Feb 11, 2010 9:15 PM:
To the city of huston wrote on Feb 11, 2010 8:23 PM:
braindead wrote on Feb 11, 2010 7:00 PM:
offsoapstone wrote on Feb 11, 2010 6:34 PM:
Meadowlakers wrote on Feb 11, 2010 6:28 PM:
to I LIKE PURCELL wrote on Feb 11, 2010 1:14 PM:
wow. wrote on Feb 11, 2010 12:09 PM:
most likely him, his wife, or one person who posts a lot.
that's my bet. "
Alden wrote on Feb 11, 2010 9:27 AM:
i like purcell wrote on Feb 11, 2010 9:19 AM:
Houston Citizen wrote on Feb 11, 2010 8:12 AM:
chance_giver wrote on Feb 11, 2010 6:54 AM:
Dave Herrmann wrote on Feb 11, 2010 6:08 AM:
This man would put flashing lights on a bicycle as he continues to pretend he's a policeman Wasn't there a BMW, yes a BMW, equipped with police lights for a while up there that the "Mayor" was flashing about town?
Hmmmm Seems I could go on with the Mayberry~Barney Fife shenanigans....but I gotta go to my real job.
Ta Ta to La La Land and Laura! "
Uncle Jed wrote on Feb 11, 2010 2:52 AM:
alaskaveritas wrote on Feb 10, 2010 9:57 PM:
The issue is not the ability to operate a vehicle, its a matter of law. Roger Purcell comitted a felony by his actions. Impersonating a Police Officer is a class C Felony. In addition, he comitted reckless driving on the way to Fairbanks. Further, he comitted Official Misconduct by using his position an ordering Sgt. Seidl to relinquish his police vehicle and then using it for unauthorized use - a policy that he voted in earlier in 2009. This is one of many things that he has done. Sgt. Seidl did his job and reported Roger. "
laura wrote on Feb 10, 2010 9:28 PM:
do u realize it cost the city TWICE AS MUCH to drive it here compared to shipping it?
Oh, wait- yo got a free vacation out of it.
Your days in Houston are numbered. "
chance_giver wrote on Feb 10, 2010 9:14 PM:
WhoDat wrote on Feb 10, 2010 7:40 PM:
Roger Roger wrote on Feb 10, 2010 7:30 PM:
MeadowLakers wrote on Feb 10, 2010 7:22 PM:
Don't come here. We just got rid of Tom. "
houston red wrote on Feb 10, 2010 6:29 PM:
go figure wrote on Feb 10, 2010 6:10 PM:
Uh Laura wrote on Feb 10, 2010 5:50 PM:
Did you read the original article? Besides driving a police vehicle, he was driving recklessly and impersonating a peace officer. Not to mention the constant lying after he is caught goofing up each time. The guy is a slimeball. "
Power Wagon wrote on Feb 10, 2010 5:49 PM:
Why doesn't the clown just resign already?! Is it over-inflated ego or just ignorance? Both? Sheesh...some people just don't know when to quit. "
to laura wrote on Feb 10, 2010 4:32 PM:
Laura wrote on Feb 10, 2010 3:51 PM:
Bye Bye Roger wrote on Feb 10, 2010 3:39 PM:
step one wrote on Feb 10, 2010 3:36 PM:
step two begins.
bye, roger.
don't let the door hit you or your wife's butt on the way out. "
No.1HockeyMom wrote on Feb 10, 2010 3:13 PM: