Eugene councilor preparing for recall election after city validates petition signatures

A petition has garnered enough signatures to spark a recall election against Eugene City Councilor Claire Syrett, who told The Register-Guard she does not plan to resign.

The election likely will happen in early September based on deadlines set by state law. Syrett, who represents Ward 7, said she's heard it could cost tens of thousands to conduct the local election. Ward 7 includes Santa Clara, River Road, Trainsong and Whiteaker neighborhood associations.

Petitioners started gathering signatures for the recall in the spring and delivered signatures to the city July 21.

The city recorder sent a letter Monday letting petitioners know the county had reviewed around 1,500 signatures and validated more than the required 1,365 — 15% of the 9,095 votes cast from the ward for governor in 2018 − for the petition to make the ballot.

That started a five-day deadline for Syrett, who also is currently serving as council president, to either resign or file what's known as a "statement of justification" summing up why she should be able to finish her term in 200 words or less.

Syrett said in an interview Tuesday that she does not plan to resign.

"I don’t believe they have demonstrated that I’ve engaged in a dereliction of duty or not been faithful to my oath of office," she told The Register-Guard.

Petitioners 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, a move they claim would "cause massive traffic jams and necessitate the removal of 112-136 trees."

Officials with the city and Lane Transit District voted in March to continue looking at whether to make no changes or continue looking at investments to enhance bus service with dedicated lanes, safer pedestrian crossings and similar measures or to install an EmX line on five major corridors including River Road.

Read more about MovingAhead:Eugene, LTD approve key step forward in MovingAhead, but it's 'not an approved, done deal'

Syrett was one of six councilors to vote in favor of narrowing down options for the five corridors.

Before delivering signatures in July, petitioners said they had discovered people also are frustrated Syrett had "ignored or mishandled major city issues, including her ignoring the surging crime in her ward; doing little to provide sensible, sustainable solutions to homelessness; removing critical protections for the Willamette River Greenway; pushing for the complete elimination of single-family neighborhoods; and her support of outside investors who intend to 'gentrify' Ward 7’s more affordable neighborhoods."

One resident of Ward 7 said it seems Syrett is listening to realtors, businesses and other special interest groups pushing "wild ideas" instead of "listening to our neighborhood concerns and taking care of our needs."

Syrett said she's ready to launch a campaign to respond to the petition.

"Democracy is a contact sport," she said. "That’s what this recall represents in my view."

She added she works to the best of her ability to solicit and receive feedback from constituents and then decides on a position based on comments from constituents, her values and what she said she would do when she took office.

Since Syrett said she does not plan to resign, she has until Monday to file the statement of justification. The city then has 35 days to hold the recall election.

Syrett said she and others can't remember a recall happening for a sitting city councilor. While people are entitled to have strong opinions about the issues they say prompted the recall effort, she said she's frustrated that they went with this route instead of running someone against her in the next election.

According to the city's website, Syrett's term expires at the beginning of 2025, meaning her seat is up for election in 2024.

A special election will cost taxpayers "tens of thousands," Syrett said.

In the special election, a majority of votes in favor of a recall would remove Syrett from the position. The remaining seven city councilors would then choose her successor. A majority of votes in opposition to a recall would mean Syrett finishes her term.

Contact city government watchdog Megan Banta at mbanta@registerguard.com. Follow her on Twitter @MeganBanta_1.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Councilor readying for recall after petition qualifies for ballot