01/08/2007

Recall vote likely to be on ballot

But township supervisor doesn't like language

By Christine Finger

cfinger@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — Bingham Township voters will decide in February whether to oust Supervisor Robert Foster from office, unless a judge grants his request to toss the recall petition before election day.

Leelanau County Clerk Michelle Crocker said her office verified 322 of the 408 petition signatures that circulators submitted in November. At least 289 signatures from registered Bingham Township voters were required for the recall question to appear on the Feb. 27 ballot.

"We're in the proof ballot stage right now,” Crocker said.

Voters in Bingham Township also will decide on a proposed fire and ambulance millage in the February election.

Bingham Township resident Marge Johnson, chairwoman of the Committee to Recall Robert W. Foster, in October filed a recall petition that alleges Foster's dereliction of statutory duties as supervisor.

Members of the county's election commission on Nov. 7 approved petition language during a clarity hearing, clearing the way to collect signatures.

But Foster appealed the election commission's decision to the county's circuit court and alleged the petition language is vague and could confuse voters. The court has not yet acted on the request.

The recall petition lists several specific allegations of misconduct committed by Foster, including verbally harassing and intimidating other elected officials and placing the township at risk by contending he had permission from the Army Corps of Engineers to groom Hendryx Park beach.

Foster said all of the allegations in the petition are false and said he could not respond further because of a pending lawsuit filed against him by former township clerk Dorothy Petroskey. A four-day jury trial in that case is scheduled for July.

Crocker said she couldn't predict when the circuit court would consider Foster's petition, but expected it would take up the issue before the election date.