PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The recall drive against Ward 3 City Councilman Kevin Jackson will proceed after the city’s Board of Canvassers Friday rejected most of the challenges Jackson’s lawyer made to signatures on petitions calling for a vote on his remaining in office.
Under the City Charter, forcing a recall election is a two-step process. First, 300 “declaration of intent” signatures must be collected, signed by ward voters. Once that happens, a second set of petitions are issued, requiring the signatures of 20 percent of the electorate in the ward, or about 2,100 voters.
Dawn Euer, the lawyer representing Recall Kevin Jackson, the group behind the effort, said her clients were pleased with the board’s decision, which meant that they could begin collecting signatures this weekend and on Election Day, when registered voters will be especially easy to find.
“We’re happy that the voices of Ward 3 will be heard,” she said.
Artin Coloian, one of Jackson’s lawyers, said he was disappointed by the board’s votes and complained that he wasn’t able to call the witnesses he needed and that the board gave so few reasons for the individual challenge votes it took that he wondered if they hadn’t made up their minds before the meeting started.