5 state House Democrats, 1 Republican targeted in new Michigan recall efforts

LANSING — Five House Democrats are targeted in apparently coordinated recall efforts over their recent votes on bills related to gun legislation and hate laws.

And recall papers also have been filed against at least one Republican lawmaker, though it was not clear Monday whether that recall effort is connected to the others.

Targeted in petitions filed last week are Democratic representatives Jaime Churches, of Wyandotte, Betsy Coffia, of Traverse City, Jennifer Conlin, of Ann Arbor, Sharon MacDonell, of Troy, and Reggie Miller, of Van Buren Township.

And recall papers also were recently submitted targeting state Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, Michigan Secretary of State Office records show. The recall filing against Cavitt cited his vote on the election of House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit. The recall filing was submitted by Gary Wnuk, of Barton City. Wnuk, whose LinkedIn entry says he is a school board member, declined comment Monday.

The language of the proposed recall petitions is expected to be considered by the Board of State Canvassers on Aug. 1.

According to records filed with the state, Coffia and MacDonell are targeted because they voted in favor of House Bill 4145, to allow "extreme risk protection orders," under what is commonly known as a "red flag" law, where judges can be asked to remove firearms from those deemed a risk to themselves or others. That bill passed the House on April 13 in a 56-51 vote, but did not get a vote in the Senate. Instead, it was parallel Senate legislation, Senate Bill 83, that became Michigan's red flag law. Churches, Conlin and Miller are targeted because they voted for House Bill 4474, which sought to enhance state laws and penalties related to hate crimes, hate speech and intimidation. That bill passed the House June 20 by a 59-50 vote and is pending in the Senate. The wording and timing of all five recall filings is similar.

Recalling a lawmaker is difficult in Michigan and no lawmaker has been successfully recalled since 2011, when Republican Rep. Paul Scott, of Grand Blanc, was narrowly ousted in an effort backed by the Michigan Education Association.

After that, Michigan revamped its recall laws in 2012, under former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, to place more hurdles in the way of a successful recall effort. Still, with Democrats holding only a 56-54 majority in the House, any recall effort is potentially significant.

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Those seeking to recall the lawmakers must first get petition language approved by the Board of State Canvassers and then, within a 60-day period, collect signatures equal to 25% of all votes cast for governor in the representative's district in the 2022 election. That's a much higher signature threshold than what existed before 2012.

If the required number of signatures is collected, the recall election to complete the term of the targeted lawmaker is held on the next regular election date, with the challenged lawmaker automatically listed as one of the candidates unless the lawmaker chooses to withdraw. In this case, since the challenged lawmakers are all Democrats, opponents would be selected by the relevant county political parties.

It wasn't immediately clear whether any specific group was behind the recall efforts.

Dr. Michael Ross, who signed the recall papers for MacDonell, is a Troy physician who has contributed to many Republican and conservative causes and politicians, records show. Reached Monday, Ross said his top priority is strengthening and preserving marriage and the family and he is also involved in attempted recalls of Troy school board members. But when asked, he provided no information about a person or group coordinating the state House recalls. Barbara Willing, who filed the recall papers against Coffia, is a Traverse City retiree who made small donations to Republican and conservative causes, including support of the 2022 GOP Secretary of State candidacy of Kristina Karamo, who is now chair of the Michigan Republican Party, records show. Willing could not immediately be reached. Holli Vallade, who filed the recall papers against Miller, lost the Republican primary for Miller's seat last August, records show. Vallade did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.

“This unfounded effort to recall our representatives has no teeth," Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes said in a news release. "These representatives are fighting for their communities and representing the needs of their constituents."

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 5 House Dems, 1 GOP rep targeted in new Michigan recall efforts