Florida House District 3 Representative Jayer Williamson this morning filed House Bill 1605 and House Joint Resolution 1603 which would provide for the recall of county commissioners in non-chartered counties.
The legislation proposes an amendment to Florida’s Constitution which would provides that any member of governing body of non-charter county may be removed from office by the electors of the non-charter county.
Chance Johnmeyer, a Santa Rosa County resident who founded Recall Florida, praises the move.
Currently only 20 charter counties in Florida have the ability to recall an elected county official. Santa Rosa County, a non-charter government, is not one of them.
According to the Florida Association of Counties, the basic difference between charter and non-charter counties are that charter counties operate under a charter approved by county residents, allowing the local government to self-govern – as long as their laws don’t violate state law. On the other hand, non-charter counties operate under the Florida Constitution and State Statutes and can only self-govern as prescribed by the existing state laws.
“We believe all 67 counties should have the same right (to recall),” said Johnmeyer.
“Why only include county commissioner and why not include House and Senate members and the Governor. Why can’t we recall everybody,” said District 3 Santa Rosa County Commissioner James Calkins. “We should have Government-in-the-Sunshine Laws apply to state legislators, too.”
For more information join the Recall Florida group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/recallflorida2020
