Richwood Mayor Says Recall Petition Signatures Were Forged
By: Janice Park
Updated: October 5, 2009
The mayor of Richwood is finding himself in court today.
Mayor Steve Hunter says a petition meant to recall him has major problems.
He says its filled with forged signatures.
Hunter was in 4th judicial court trying to stop the October 17th recall election from happening.
Mayor Steve Hunter has only been in office for a year and a half now. But the battle to get him out is now being played out in court. For months, citizens in Richwood worked hard to get the 353 signatures needed, to start a recall against Mayor Steve Hunter.
Some residents say the mayor's promise to clean up streets and improve their police department were empty. Enough voting citizens signed the recall petition and it was approved by both the local registrars office and the governor's office.
But today, the mayor is contesting. Hunter says the recall petition is infested with fraudulent signatures. Citizens like Naomi Taylor say even though her signature is one of the 75 signatures being questioned...she definitely signed the petition.
Also, at today's trial was former mayor Ed Harris. You may remember he emptied out the towns bank account at the end of his term. He told us today that he wants to be mayor again -- if Steve Hunter is recalled.
Mayor Steve Hunter has only been in office for a year and a half now. But the battle to get him out is now being played out in court. For months, citizens in Richwood worked hard to get the 353 signatures needed, to start a recall against Mayor Steve Hunter.
Some residents say the mayor's promise to clean up streets and improve their police department were empty. Enough voting citizens signed the recall petition and it was approved by both the local registrars office and the governor's office.
But today, the mayor is contesting. Hunter says the recall petition is infested with fraudulent signatures. Citizens like Naomi Taylor say even though her signature is one of the 75 signatures being questioned...she definitely signed the petition.
Also, at today's trial was former mayor Ed Harris. You may remember he emptied out the towns bank account at the end of his term. He told us today that he wants to be mayor again -- if Steve Hunter is recalled.
