Today's Colorado Recalls

Today's updates from Ballotpedia No Images? [Click here]( [Ballotpedia's Daily Brew]( Crawford & Federal Heights Votes Ballotpedia is tracking local recall elections taking place in Colorado today. In Crawford, Colorado, a recall effort against Mayor Wanda Gofforth began due to allegations that the mayor had exceeded her authority, exceeded the city's budget for legal fees by hiring Brown & Camp LLC without council approval, and failed to conduct town meetings within boundaries of state open meeting requirements. In an interview with a local television station, Mayor Gofforth stated, “They think I’m like the president, like I have executive power. I do not. The mayor has no more power than the other trustees. I just feel that what is right is what we did. We might have made an error with one meeting, but other than that we have been very open about what is going on.” In Federal Heights, Colorado, Mayor Daniel Dick and City Councilman John Hamlin will also face a recall election. This recall effort began due to concerns about the city's rental inspection program. Mayor Dick and Councilman Hamlin supported a 2013 program that opponents criticized as unfair to renters. The two city officials unsuccessfully appealed the city clerk’s decision that enough valid petition signatures were collected to put the recall election on the ballot. [Read on: Wanda Gofforth Recall]( [Read on: Daniel Dick & John Hamlin Recall]( A special election will take place in Virginia between Jeff Bourne (D), John Barclay (L), and Regie Ford (I) for the District 71 seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. The seat is vacant following Jenn McClellan's (D) election to the state Senate. McClellan won the seat by an 88-11 margin in 2015. The winner of this election will need to run for re-election in November 2017. Republicans currently hold a 66-33 majority in the 100-member chamber. Virginia is currently one of 19 states under divided government. [Read on: Virginia's State Legislative Special Elections]( The St. Louis Police Officers Association endorsed Lyda Krewson in the upcoming mayoral Democratic primary. Responding to a request for comment from the St. Louis American, Krewson's opponent in the race, Antonio French, criticized her public safety proposals: "Lyda has no intention of working to repair the broken relationship between the police and the black community... Her new crime plan … will cost taxpayers $34 million without adding one layer of additional oversight or accountability." [Will Lyda Krewson's crime plan cost $34 million without additional oversight?]( [See today's Pliny's Point now!]( Ballotpedia is now offering a daily statistic—Pliny's Point—the one number you need to stay in the know about where Americans stand on the direction of the country, a current issue, or their approval of elected officials. Our newest offering is named for Pliny the Elder, a scholar from the Roman Empire, who is most well known for writing the encyclopedic work Naturalis Historia, or “Natural History.” Check our homepage each weekday morning at 9:30 a.m. EST to see the latest Pliny's Point! [See the stats: Pliny's Point]( Help keep your friends and colleagues up to date on political news. Forward this email or share on your favorite social media site. You are receiving this email because you signed up for email updates on Ballotpedia.org. Too many emails? Change your preferences below. [Like]( [Tweet]( [Share]( [Forward]( [Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe](