LINCOLN- The Lancaster County Election Commissioner Dave Shively announced that recall affidavits have been filed against Mayor Baird and council members James Michael Bowers (D1), Richard Meginnis (D2), Jane Raybould (D3) and Tammy Ward (D4). This comes after a group, LNK Recall claimed their elected officials are not listening to them following the appointment of Health Director Pat Lopez, and implementation of a mask mandate.
Samuel Lyon, a Lincoln resident says Mayor Baird has sowed discord into neighborhoods. Specifically, the recall affidavit alleges Gaylor Baird “obtained open-ended authoritarian control, usurped legislative authority, misused the police and destroyed small businesses.”
Jane Raybould says she will stand behind the council's decision to confirm Pat Lopez to the Health Director position. However, she also understands the group has a right to mount a recall. The named officials will have time to put out formal responses before the affidavit's are circulated to the public. Petitioners will need to collect 21,652 signatures of registered voters to trigger an election recall against the mayor. Smaller numbers will be needed for a recall election for council members.
In an editorial printed Friday, the Lincoln JournalStar called the recall move baseless and belies the intent of the recall process. “Last year, the attempt to recall Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert collapsed when organizers failed to get the signatures required to force a vote. That would be the best possible outcome for the ill-conceived, near frivolous, unnecessary attempt to recall Gaylor Baird and the council members, who have done admirable, not condemnable, work during the pandemic.”