The St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court and Registrar of Voters have received notice from the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office that a recall has been filed against St. Martinville Dist. 3 councilman Dennis Paul Williams.
Williams, who was elected to his fourth term on the council this past April, is facing opposition that, at least in part, seems to stem from his support of current Police Chief Ricky Martin, who was hired last December in a 3-2 council decision over minority candidate Karen Jones. The recall application, signed by Daja Alexander, alleges a “lack of representation” by Williams for Dist. 3 residents.
Williams defeated Mourice Smith by a vote of 241 to 206 in the April 28 municipal election with a 50 percent turnout of the 867 eligible voters in the district.
The Secretary of State’s approval is not an endorsement of the merits of the recall. It is granted anytime the proper procedures for the application are met. A petition for recall can be filed against any public official, other than judges, anytime except within six months of the end of his or her term of office.
For districts with less than 1,000 registered voters, a recall petition must secure the signatures of at least 40 percent of the qualified electors.
In District 3 that would be 347 voters. That total would have to be secured by Oct. 15.
Once the signatures are verified, an election would be scheduled on the recall question. If the recall passes, the office would be vacated following a nine-day contesting period. An election must then be held to choose a new councilman and the recalled official may not run in that election.
Under state law, If the recall fails, another recall may not be initiated within 18 months.
