By Leslie Moriarty
Herald Writer
SULTAN — Despite the fact that recall efforts against Mayor C. H. Rowe and city councilman Jim Porter have been dismissed, those who support the recall efforts say they are watching and may file recalls again in the future.
A Snohomish County court commissioner signed an order to dismiss both recalls Monday.
Rowe said this is what he’s been waiting for.
"I’ve said all along, I did nothing wrong," he said. "The dismissal proves that."
The recall petitions were filed in January by Mark Tuohy, a former councilman who lost his seat to Porter. He claimed Rowe and Porter conducted city business behind closed doors, kept important information from the public and ignored environmental regulations in approving some developments.
Rowe and Porter denied the allegations and said the petitions were politically motivated by Tuohy and former Sultan city administrator Bill Trippett, an attorney representing Tuohy.
A Snohomish County Superior Court judge had ruled that supporters could begin gathering signatures. But David Carson, attorney for Rowe and Porter, asked the judge to dismiss the recalls after Tuohy moved out of town.
Then Trippett said residents Jeffrey Everett, who is running for city council, and Stanley Otto wanted to replace Tuohy in the recall efforts.
That matter needed the court’s approval. But before that could happen, Everett and Otto decided to wait until after the Nov. 6 elections to decide whether to start the recall process anew.
Trippett said there is an opportunity for several new faces to be on the council, and that may be enough to make a difference in city politics.
You can call Herald Writer Leslie Moriarty at 425-339-3436
or send e-mail to moriarty@heraldnet.com.
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