TC recall petition submitted to county official
By Cindy Yurth
Tséyi' Bureau
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CHINLE, March 20, 2008
A petition to recall three members of the Tuba City School Board was submitted to Coconino County election administrator Patty Hansen Friday, according to a Tuba City parent who is leading the recall effort.Hansen did not return a phone call to her office Tuesday.
Organizers collected more than 800 signatures to remove board President Linda Honahni, Jack Begay and Alvin Harvey from the five-member board because of what the petitioners perceive as their support for school Superintendent Eugene Thomas's unorthodox spending practices.
Among other things, Thomas gave unauthorized raises of $20,000 to his two closest underlings, an independent investigator concluded last month. The school board has yet to approve the raises.
"We want the outrageous spending to stop," said Virginia Butler, who led the petition drive. "The concern from the community for our school has been great. Our community and the surrounding areas have our children and our teachers in their best interest and that is what motivates us."
Butler said 828 people signed the petition to remove Begay, 821 want to remove Honahni and 816 oppose Harvey.
"We needed a minimum of 673 for the election recall to happen," Butler said.
Harvey did not return a phone message Tuesday, and neither Honahni nor Begay could be reached for comment.
Hansen's office must now verify the signatures, which generally takes about two months, and the recall group must field a slate of alternative candidates. After that a recall election will be scheduled.
The group has also approached the chapters of Tuba City, Coalmine, Cameron, Red Lake and Gap to pass resolutions supporting the recall effort along with removing both Thomas and Tuba City High School principal Jacqueline Wauneka from their posts.
Wauneka has come under fire from parents for what some consider overly harsh discipline at the school.
Butler said Coalmine Chapter passed the resolution at its last meeting. Chapter officials did not return a phone call Tuesday to confirm that.