Drop sites, lawsuit, arguments: What voters need to know about the Ward 7 recall election
More than 2,700 people already have voted in the Eugene Ward 7 recall election as of Friday, according to the Lane County Clerk's office.
People living in the ward, which includes Santa Clara, River Road, Trainsong and Whiteaker neighborhood associations, have until 8 p.m. Tuesday to drop off ballots voting for or against efforts to recall Councilor Claire Syrett.
Here's what you need to know if you haven't voted yet.
Arguments on both sides
Petitioners, who started recall efforts in the spring, have cited frustration over MovingAhead, a yearslong transportation project that could result in bus-only lanes for an Emerald Express, or EmX, route on River Road.
They've called out Syrett saying she didn't hear from any property owners along the major corridor with concerns about the proposal despite having received petitions against the project.
Related:Q&A with Eugene Councilor Claire Syrett and a lead petitioner in efforts to recall her
Syrett has said people are entitled to have strong opinions about the issues they say prompted the recall effort, but expressed frustration that they went with this route instead of running someone against her in the next election.
She's pointed to her record on combatting climate change, promoting reliable active transportation options, supporting increased funding for police through a payroll tax and finding solutions to homelessness.
Thousands raised
As of Friday afternoon, the recall committee and Syrett's campaign had raised nearly $27,000.
Recall Claire Syrett had reported around $11,500 in direct contributions and around $7,000 spent.
Syrett's campaign had reported a little more than $15,000 in direct contributions and around $8,800 spent.
Legal challenge ongoing
Syrett's campaign is asking a judge to invalidate the petitions submitted to qualify the recall to the ballot and halt certification of the special election.
A lawsuit filed last month on behalf of the campaign in Lane County Circuit Court claims the recall effort was based on false information.
The recall petitionscontend that MovingAhead will remove two lanes for cars on River Road, take substantial property away from businesses, cause traffic congestion and involve an increase in taxes.
The lawsuit calls out those statements false.
“These statements make assertions of objective fact that are false and cannot reasonably be interpreted in any manner that would make them factually correct,” the complaint reads.
Petitioners haven't yet been served with the lawsuit, according to court records, so they haven't filed a legal response to the complaint.
Drop site locations
After filling out a ballot, people can drop them back in the mail or take them to one of four open drop sites:
Lane County Elections: 275 W. 10th Ave., enter from Lincoln Street
River Road Park & Recreation Center: 1400 Lake Drive, on the south island in parking lot off Lake Drive
Pearl Street: 777 Pearl Street, between Seventh and Eighth avenues
Bethel Branch Library: 1900 Echo Hollow Road
The sites are open 24 hours a day until Tuesday, when they close at 8 p.m.
For questions, go to lanecounty.org/elections or call 541-682-4234 between 9 a.m. and noon or 1 and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Elections will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday during the special election.
When will we start seeing results?
Elections will post the first round of results at 8 p.m. Tuesday at lanecounty.org/elections.
They'll then follow up with four more reports as needed at:
5 p.m. Friday
5 p.m. Sept. 16
5 p.m. Sept. 28
5 p.m. Oct. 3
The city recorder has until Oct. 3 to certify results.
Contact city government watchdog Megan Banta at mbanta@registerguard.com. Follow her on Twitter @MeganBanta_1.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: What voters need to know about the Ward 7 recall election
