Petition Circulating To Recall Mayor

By Bruce Kettelle

Eighteen months after winning the mayor’s seat a group of residents are calling for his removal. The Progressive Citizens of Trotwood are circulating a petition to recall Mayor Darreyl Davis in a special election.

Trotwood Resident Brendalee Roseman, the apparent originator of the petition contacted the city clerk’s office recently to get information about the recall process. The city charter states a recall petition must be signed by 25% of the total number of voters voting in the most recent at-large city council election. Roseman said they have already gathered over 400 signatures.

During Monday’s council meeting Roseman said, “Mayor Davis, you have let us down…it hurts.”

Among the eleven reasons on the recall petition are complaints about his arrogance during city council meetings and lack of new development he promised while campaigning for the office.

The recall effort also comes after several close 4 to 3 council votes and increased citizen turnout to city council meetings; last fall over a proposed housing project on East Main St and this spring over RTA’s desire to locate a Greyhound bus terminal in their Trotwood hub.

Another item in the petition is the council travel budget, a point raised during year-end budget workshops by councilwoman Mary McDonald who read the entire petition to the council during the meeting. She also read a letter from a resident who condemned the recall and supported the mayor.

The mayor responded to some of the items in the petition and tried to assure the community that his heart is in the right place. “I understand people are hurt about the Salem Mall,” he said about the slow effort to attract new uses to the site.

Former Vice Mayor Michael Sprague said he has recently seen some of the new preliminary development plans for the Salem Mall site. “For the first time in years I’m excited about the prospects for real development there.”

Sprague is serving on a committee with the city’s consulting developer who began devising a new strategy for the site late last year. He also teaches political science at Sinclair and is surprised the group feels a recall is necessary.

“What we need as a community is not reasons why we can’t, we need ideas of how we can,” said Sprague. He believes Davis is one of the latter.

“Change is inevitable, but I have no disrespect for those that want our city to be perfect,” said Davis.

“This is a tough time to be a mayor anywhere,” said Davis.

A quick search around the state revealed there are several recall efforts underway including a recall election next week against the Mayor of Akron.

When a submitted recall petition is found to be sufficient the city charter calls for an election within 60 to 75 days. Council clerk Lois Singleton said that a special election would cost the city about $20,000.

----Update 6-18-09 --------

As of today the actual number of signatures required is unclear. Summary repots from the election do not contain the necessary subtotal. The city has requested the Board of Elections to research the voter count and expects an answer next week.