Recall Efforts Against Shelby Twp. Treasurer Fail

The failed because there were not enough valid signatures collected, according to the Macomb County Clerk’s Office.

On Monday, County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh sent petition filer Tom Delise a letter notifying him that there would not be a special recall election. She said the effort failed because the petitions were 411 signatures short of the number needed.

Delise turned in 7,382 signatures on May 26. He needed to have 6,318 valid signatures. Of those, only 5,907 signatures were counted, according to Sabaugh.

Nearly 1,500 signatures were eliminated because they were either duplicates, contained incomplete information, signed by non-township residents or the signers were not registered to vote.

Last week the clerk announced a recall effort against the because the petitions were short by 501 signatures. On May 23 Delise filed 7,275 signatures calling for the recall of the supervisor. He also needed to have 6,318 valid signatures. Sabaugh said 1,458 signatures were not valid for the same reasons as Viar’s recall.

Delise wrote on the recall petition that he wanted Viar and Stathakis out of office because of their votes in favor of rezoning two pieces of property—one on 24 Mile and Schoenherr roads and the other on 22 Mile and Van Dyke Avenue. 

Shelby Township Trustee Lisa Manzella said at Tuesday’s board meeting that although the recall efforts failed, the board should take the recall efforts seriously.

“Nearly 6,000 residents did sign. This is not about towing—it's about zoning and the disregard for residents’ needs. Many people made an attempt to get your attention,” she said.

Retired Shelby Township police officer Ken Underwood Wednesday took down a large sign that read “Recall Stathakis and Viar” from his parents' lawn on 24 Mile Road after he heard the efforts failed.

Underwood said he would support petitioners if there was a second recall effort.

Underwood said that he wants the two out of office, citing their behavior toward residents and each other as well as their votes to rezone land.

“There is no way they should be in office,” said Underwood. “I would love to see both of them gone and a few other members on the board, Flynn (Trustee Michael Flynn) being one of them.”

Viar was unavailable for comment Wednesday.

“Now that this distraction is behind us, the Board of Trustees will continue our work and will stay focused on managing the important issues as they relate to township finances, public safety and quality of life," said Stathakis.

The recall elections would have cost Shelby Township more than $60,000. The amount does not include cost for the county and the township staff to go through the ballot process.