Stathakis, Viar Safe from August Recall Vote

The deadline to put the recall of Shelby Township Supervisor Rick Stathakis and Treasurer Paul Viar on the August elections has expired.

When petitioners failed to turn in more than 7,000 signatures to the Macomb County Elections Commission April 29, the August election option slipped away.

Odd year August elections are primaries for most cities, but since it’s an election date, other issues can be put on the ballot, according to the Macomb County Election Department.

However, the politicians, who are being recalled because of their vote on the rezoning of two properties, aren’t in the clear yet.

Organizers have until May 21 to submit signatures to recall Stathakis and until June 12 for Viar, in order to put the recall on the November ballot.

Recall ballot language for Trustee Lisa Manzella also expires on June 12. Recall language for Trustees Doug Wozniak and Michael Flynn will expire on July 6.

A recall targeting Clerk Terri Kowal died in February when petitioners failed to submit signatures.

Stathakis was elected in 2008 and is serving his first four-year term in office. Viar is in his fourth. The terms for both men expire in November 2012.

A special recall election could cost Shelby Township taxpayers nearly $30,000, Kowal told Patch, not to mention the additional resources that would be needed to verify the validity of the signatures collected.