Friday, June 3, 2011
11:55 AM
Dem attorney: Recalls of GOP sens. should go forward
The state Democratic Party believes a GOP request to postpone all recall certification efforts until the Government Accountability Board completes its review of recalls against three Dem senators constitutes "manipulation of the system."
The GAB and attorneys for both parties in the recalls are due in court this afternoon for a hearing to discuss extending the deadline for the GAB to complete its review of those three remaining recall efforts.
Attorney Jeremy Levinson, who represents Dem Sens. Dave Hansen, Jim Holperin and Bob Wirch along with the recall efforts against six GOP senators, told reporters in a conference call today that attorneys for recalled GOP senators "want this judge to basically wrestle control from the GAB on timing issues and delay the six recall elections of Republican senators."
"There is no practical basis for delaying those recall elections of the Republican senators, and they should go forward forthwith just as the statute mandates," Levinson said.
Attorneys for the GAB argue the Dem recall certifications are more complex than the petitions against six GOP senators that have already been approved by the board. The GAB also argues its staff has been overwhelmed with work and did not consider partisan affiliation in working on the petitions.
Levinson said while Dems aren't thrilled with the additional time, "the realities make another week delay on those three necessary."
But Eric McLeod, attorney for the Republican senators and the recall committees challenging Dems, said in his filing that the court should order the GAB to delay certification of all recall elections, arguing that the GOP lawmakers hoped to hold all recall elections on the same day.
-- By Andy Szal
Labels: 2011 recall elections
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