A bill that would make it easier to remove locally-elected officials, including school board members, was filed ahead of the start of the 114th Tennessee General Assembly Tuesday.
The bill, filed by State Rep. G.A. Hardaway, who represents parts of Memphis, would amend parts of Tennessee state law to allow local government to adopt a process for locally elected officials to be removed in a recall election.
“Local officials are subject to removal under this part if the county, municipal, or metropolitan legislative body, as applicable, adopts this part by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the legislative body of the county, municipality, or metropolitan government,” the bill states.
Hardaway filed the bill for introduction on Jan. 9.
State Rep. G.A. Hardaway speaks to the media during a press conference of lawmakers and community leaders to respond to the Department of Justice’s announcement of a civil rights investigation into the City of Memphis and the Memphis Police Department outside Memphis City Hall on Thursday, July 27, 2023.
Recall elections became a topic of conversation amid some school board members’ efforts to fire Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins. Under current state law, recalls are not allowed for school board members.
“The petition must be signed by registered voters who reside within the geographic boundaries of the jurisdiction of which the local official is sought to be removed equal in number to at least sixty-six percent (66%) of the total vote cast for that member in the last regular election. Each person signing the petition must sign the person’s name, provide the date of signing, and provide the signer’s place of residence by street and number or by other customarydesignation,” the legislation states.
Brooke Muckerman covers city of Memphis, Shelby County Government, education and the unhoused for The Memphis Commercial Appeal. You can call her at 901-484-6225 or email her at brooke.muckerman@commercialappeal.com
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Proposed bill to allow for school board member recalls in Tennessee