Michigan Board Dismisses Recall Petitions Against Secretary of State
In a recent decision, Michigan’s Board of State Canvassers turned down two petitions aimed at recalling Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. The petitions accused Benson of misusing state resources and mishandling campaign finance complaints, but both were found lacking in specificity and factual basis.
The first petition contended that Benson had exceeded the time allowed by law to address complaints under the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. However, attorney Rowan Conybeare argued that the petition failed to detail which complaints were involved, stating, “The reason for recall tells Secretary Benson and electors nothing of the referenced complaints made under the Campaign Finance Act that Secretary Benson has allegedly delayed investigating and resolving. Rather than pointing to those specific complaints, the recall petition merely references complaints generally.”
Despite disagreement from Republican board chair Richard Houskamp, who insisted Benson was accountable for her office’s actions, he concurred with the board’s decision to dismiss the petitions due to their generality and lack of clarity. He commented, “You are correct in that there’s no specificity. This is a very wide, general shot at the wall.”
The second petition accused Benson of improperly using government resources to announce her future political plans, referencing a press event in her office lobby. Conybeare highlighted the absence of specifics in the petition: “No details are provided to pinpoint what the petition is referring to. It could be any number of announcements that Secretary Benson has made in her nearly two terms as Secretary of State. So, the reason for recall clearly fails to identify the transaction as is required by the clarity standard.”
The incident in question led to a Campaign Finance Act complaint, suggesting Benson used state resources for political purposes. Benson has refuted these claims, asserting that other candidates have also utilized the building’s lobby for press interactions. This complaint remains under review by the Attorney General’s office.
Following the board’s decision, Benson’s campaign expressed gratitude, viewing the efforts as politically motivated. Campaign spokesperson Alyssa Bradley remarked, “Republicans know Jocelyn Benson has a strong record of saving Michiganders time and money, and a proven track record of taking on big fights and winning – that’s why they’re so desperate and afraid to stop her.”
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