Recall Petition Filed Against Calumet Village Trustee

A recall petition is underway for Calumet Village trustee Virginia Dwyer.

The language for the petition was filed Thursday with the Houghton County Clerk’s office by Calumet resident Barbara Yannatta.

The basis for the recall is that Dwyer voted against a motion to pass an ordinance to opt-in to the Michigan Medical Marijuana law at the village council meeting on January 16, 2018.

The motion was made by Peggy Germain and seconded by Jim Camp but did not receive enough votes to pass.

Dwyer was not the only trustee to vote against the motion so it is unclear in the petition language why she is the only target of the recall.

The Calumet Village Council has come under harsh criticism from some residents for not opting in under the law, which led to the closure of a local dispensary.

The Houghton County Election Commission will hold a clarity and factual hearing in the next 10 to 20 days.

If the language is approved and enough qualified signatures are collected, a recall election would be held in November.

Dwyer was elected to a 4-year term in 2016, receiving more votes than any other candidate for Calumet Village Trustee.