Why Vote NO on the Recall of Commissioner John West

Contributor: Chair Holli Morton

1. Fulfilling Campaign Promises
   Commissioner John West is doing exactly what he campaigned to do—using fiscally responsible policies to keep the county viable and operating efficiently.
2. Baseless Allegations
   A small group of “true radicals” is trying to portray West as a criminal, despite the fact that no laws have been broken.
3. Misuse of Ethics Complaints
   These radicals have filed over a dozen ethics violations in an attempt to oust West. Every single allegation has been investigated and proven false. However, these baseless claims have already cost the community over $10,000 in investigations and judgments.
4. Costly Recall Process
   The recall process itself will cost the county an additional $60,000—funds that could be better spent on community needs.
5. Signature Verification Issues
   The law requires that all signatures in the recall petition be verified, but less than 10% were actually verified. The results were extrapolated rather than fully counted. This process should have been completed properly to ensure accuracy.
6. Manipulative Tactics by Petitioners
   The petitioners are attempting to manipulate citizens, even labeling the Republican Party as “radical” for upholding principles like:
   • Fiscal responsibility
   • Teaching children fundamental skills for success
   • Protecting children from over-sexualization in schools
   • Advocating for parental involvement in education
   • Keeping taxes and government spending as low as possible
   It’s clear they want to remove a commissioner who was voted in by a landslide simply based on lies and slander.
7. Respect the Election Results
   We just had an election, where citizens voiced their opinions about who should lead the county. It’s important not to let self-serving individuals, who rely on dubious news sources and live in echo chambers, override the will of voters. Many of these individuals avoid attending meetings or speaking directly to local leaders but still attempt to dictate the county’s leadership.
8. Focus on the Future
   Instead of creating continuous upheaval, we need to focus on the long-term success of our county. How do we envision Josephine County in the coming years? Developing a solid business plan for the county’s future is crucial. Fortunately, we have full access to commissioners and council members, and it’s up to each of us to:
   • Independently research issues
   • Share ideas
   • Volunteer to help our community

Common sense and truth dictate that we Vote NO on the recall of Commissioner John West.