Recall language approved for Adams Township supervisor, clerk
The Hillsdale County Board of Election Commissioners has approved recall language in an Adams Township citizen’s bid to recall Township Supervisor Mark Nichols and Township Clerk Stephanie Scott.
The board met for a public hearing Friday at the Hillsdale County Courthouse in to determine if the recall language filed against both elected officials was factual and clear enough to proceed.
Gail McClanahan filed the requests on Monday, May 2, for the board to determine whether the reason for recall stated in her petitions is or is not sufficiently clear and factual to proceed.
McClanahan stated in her request that a letter received in October 2021 stated that in order to ensure elections in Adams Township were carried out in accordance with Michigan law that Scott not administer elections.
The Michigan Secretary of State’s office formally stripped Scott of her duties in administering elections in Adams Township in the fall of 2021, stating that Scott — a Trump supporter elected in the fall of 2020 — did not allow preventative maintenance on voting equipment and stated in emails that she was unwilling to complete required certifications of Public Accuracy Testing of voting machines.
The controversy escalated when Scott was given until Oct. 27, 2021, to turn over the township’s ballot tabulator after it was discovered it was missing. She did not comply with the demand resulting in the Michigan State Police obtaining a search warrant to seize the device from the Adams Township Hall in early November 2021.
The Hillsdale County Clerk’s office — who has been charged with fulfilling Scott’s obligations in administering elections in Adams Township — later seized other election materials from the Adams Township Hall out of security concerns.
In the request filed against Nichols, McClanahan stated that on Feb. 14 Nichols voted against spending $5,500 for a new ballot tabulator to replace the equipment seized by the Michigan State Police as part of a “criminal investigation” last fall.
Scott joined Nichols in voting against purchasing the equipment but the three others on the Adams Township board voted in favor of the purchase.
Nichols has publicly supported Scott’s actions stating that he felt Scott was following the law in what she had done by safeguarding Adams Township voting equipment and materials.
With the recall language approved, McClanahan must now canvass for petition signatures from voters in Adams Township to garner support for the recall to happen.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Recall language approved for Adams Township supervisor, clerk
