Betty Heater recall, Kamiah, Idaho (2024)

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Betty Heater recall
Officeholders
Betty Heater
Recall status
Recall approved
Recall election date
May 21, 2024
Signature requirement
122 signatures
See also
Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2024 Recalls in Idaho Idaho recall laws Mayoral recalls Recall reports

An election to recall Mayor Betty Heater was held on May 21, 2024, in Kamiah, Idaho. Heater was removed from her position as mayor as a result of the recall vote.

Recall vote

Betty Heater recall, 2024

Betty Heater lost the Mayor of Kamiah recall election on May 21, 2024.

			Recall  Vote	%	Votes
		✖	Yes	80.5	240
			No	19.5	58
			Total Votes		298

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Source

Recall supporters

Petitions stated the following as reasons for recalling Heater:

“

On January 10, 2018 Betty Heater was sworn in as the Mayor of Kamiah. Since her time in office, Mayor Betty Heater, has shown a lack of administrative control over the city council [Idaho Code 50-602] and a lack of fiscal management by spending more than what the city brings in [Idaho Code 50-1003 –EXPENDITURES NOT TO EXCEED APPROPRIATION]. These violations of Idaho Code have put the city of Kamiah at risk of bankruptcy (worst case) and could lead to a loan denial by the USDA for the Bryan Drive Booster Station because the city has currently failed to meet the requirements of the 1.8-million-dollar loan.

”

Recall opponents

Heater issued a response to the recall effort:

“

I am writing this letter in response to the Recall Letter that was provided to me. Per Idaho Code 50-602 I have performed my duties as Mayor over the City of Kamiah and the provisions in this Chapter. I can recommend my opinions to the Council, however; that does not mean that they will vote in the directions that I have recommended. Per Idaho Code 50-1003, Expenditures Not to Exceed Appropriation, the City of Kamiah hired a Clerk/Treasurer that transferred funds from LGIP to the General Funds within the accounts without communication the fund transfers to myself or the council members. I do not nor have ever had access to the Black Mountain Software program or the LGIP accounts. The staff deficiencies were discussed with council members, in which there was no disciplinary action taken. I was officially notified of the amount of funds that had been spent in September 2023. I have acted within City Hall and will work with the council to ensure that all reports are provided to them prior to spending and will see us through these hard times.

”

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing recall in Idaho

No specific grounds are required for recall in Idaho. To get a recall on the ballot, supporters must collect signatures equal to 20% of registered voters in the jurisdiction at the last election for the office (for city and county officials) or at the time the petition is filed (for school district and special district officials). Signatures must be collected within 75 days.

Recall context

See also: Ballotpedia's Recall Report

Ballotpedia covers recall efforts across the country for all state and local elected offices. A recall effort is considered official if the petitioning party has filed an official form, such as a notice of intent to recall, with the relevant election agency.

The chart below shows how many officials were included in recall efforts from 2012 to 2023 as well as how many of them defeated recall elections to stay in office and how many were removed from office in recall elections.

See also

• Recall campaigns in Idaho
• Political recall efforts, 2024
• Mayoral recalls

External links

Suggest a link

• Government website of Kamiah, Idaho