Recall signs causing stir

They are simple signs.

Black block letters on a white background affixed to a wooden stake.

"Recall Mayor Hornady," the signs read.

They're cropping up along Bismark and Broadwell to little concern from Mayor Margaret Hornady.

"On any given day, I wish they would -- I should be so lucky," Hornady said Monday when asked about the recall signs.

To date, no recall petition has been filed with either the city clerk or the Hall County election commissioner's office.

Hall County Election Commissioner Dale Baker said if a petition is filed, 4,510 valid signatures would have to be gathered in 30 days.

If completed within 90 days of the Nov. 4 general election ballot, the recall question must be included on that ballot, said Neal Erickson, the assistant secretary of state in charge of elections.

Ray Ericson said he put recall signs up on Saturday at his home at 656 Joehnck.

"The reason is the city obviously isn't listening to the people," Ericson said. "When you watch council meetings, the expressions on the mayor's face -- they aren't listening anyway. They've got their minds made up.

"I don't see any fiscal restraint at all. They want something and they just go spend the money on it," he said. "They can't keep spending the money. It's time to get attention up at the city."

"When people say they weren't heard, do they mean that they weren't heard or that they didn't agree with them?" Hornady said.

Ericson said he wrote a letter to the editor detailing his concerns about city spending and was contacted the next day by an individual wondering if he would put a recall sign in his yard. He said yes and the sign was on his doorstep Saturday.

"I'm not even sure where it came from," he said.

Ericson's wife, Becky, said some folks have stopped to talk about the signs.

"They said they hope it will do some good," Becky Ericson said. "They are not at all happy with Mayor Hornady.

"The biggest and main thing is they don't want to have to pay for the State Fair," Becky Ericson said. "We're already over budget and we don't have the money for the projects we already have going."

They don't want to pay more taxes -- property or otherwise.

"They are totally against the food and beverage tax," Becky Ericson said, "and all feel like she's just looking out for the richer people in town -- those who are going to benefit like those who own the fast food places, which is different than the waitresses who have to figure that all in."

"I don't feel like we're being governed by the people, of the people and for the people, (but) by the mayor," said Rick Davison, 624 E. Bismark.

Davison said he was offended when the mayor referred to $250,000 of overbudget spending on the $9 million Law Enforcement Center as no big deal.

He also objects to her handling of the animal control services contract. He didn't like how she spoke to Humane Society officials, who have handled animal control for decades, in January and doesn't like now that a local veterinarian is being suggested to take over the contract.

"It doesn't seem like she's real concerned about our tax dollars and it isn't a good time to be spending a lot of money," Davison said.

If a recall election were held today, Davison said he would vote to oust Hornady, but he hopes the sign campaign will catch her attention to make a change.

"They need to be accountable for the spending," Becky Ericson said. "They need to look out for our best interests, and we don't feel they are."