Jennifer Moody Albany Democrat-Herald | Posted: Monday, June 2, 2008 10:00 pm
LEBANON - A Lebanon political action committee must return 1,398 valid signatures to the Linn County Clerk's Office by Sept. 2 to force a special election for a recall.
The group, which calls itself Lebanon Citizens Alliance for a Responsible Education System, or CARES, filed a recall petition Monday against Debi Shimmin of the Lebanon School Board.
The recall effort can be reached at recall
John "Tre" Kennedy, a Lebanon attorney, is the president of the group. Chief petitioner is Connie Schmidt.
Kennedy said the group targeted Shimmin for the recall because she sided with board members Rick Alexander and Josh Wineteer on three critical issues: a series of controversial amendments to a contract for Sand Ridge Charter School, which Wineteer wrote; a decision to not second a motion to hire two administrators whom staff recommended for Lebanon High School; and a vote in August to place Superintendent Jim Robinson on administative leave.
The recall singles out Shimmin rather than Alexander and Wineteer because both men come up for re-election next year, while Shimmin's term continues into 2011.
Residents spoke vehemently both for and against the issues leading to the recall effort during public comments Monday before the Lebanon School Board.
Melody Willard told Shimmin she thinks the recall effort is "disgraceful" and expressed her sympathy. Sand Ridge supporter Ralph Gaston thanked Shimmin for speaking her mind and said the district should stop "arguing over pennies" when it comes to Sand Ridge.
Former board member Cory Koos, herself the target of an unsuccessful recall effort in 2001, said board members also had her sympathy and added, "I'm glad you're asking the questions."
In contrast, Patty Crenshaw and Lebanon High School senior Chris Meek blasted Shimmin, Alexander and Wineteer for a contract amendment that gives Sand Ridge a larger share of state funding, saying the three had effectively put 7 percent of the district's students ahead of all the rest.
Suzie Watts, a member of CARES, said she believes Alexander and Wineteer should have been added to the recall list for voting on the contract amendments. "Not everyone out here has gratitude for this," she said.