Judge issues split decision in McAlester recall case

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- One McAlester City Council member will be on the September 13th recall ballot while another won't.<br/><br/>Pittsburg County Associate District Judge James Bland Tuesday ruled

Wednesday, July 13th 2005, 6:34 am

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- One McAlester City Council member will be on the September 13th recall ballot while another won't.

Pittsburg County Associate District Judge James Bland Tuesday ruled that voters won't get to decide whether to oust Ward Three Councilor Michael Dawkins. Ward Six residents will get to consider the fate of Councilor Louis Smitherman.

Residents had sought the councilors' recall after learning that more than $575,000 in unused leave time was paid to former City Manager Randy Green.

After testimony in Tuesday's hearing, Bland disqualified eight signatures on a 270-name petition seeking the recall election for Dawkins. That left it shy of the 266 signatures needed.

Bland found that a 331-name petition concerning Smitherman was sufficient.