Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

A petition to recall Richwood Mayor Gerald Brown is being questioned by Richwood residents, asserting that they did not know that they were signing a document to remove Brown as mayor. They said that recall organizers told them that the petition was for "making Richwood a better town". Richwood resident Wendy Byrd said the petition was "falsely presented" and never expressed as a recall petition for Mayor Brown. An individual in favor of the petition asserted that the document was legitimate and plainly said the petition was intended to recall Brown from his position as mayor. Contrarily, Byrd said that residents were told that the petition was about making improvements to the city, such as putting up lights along HWY 165 and adding extra police patrols. Mayor Brown was questioned about the matter and shared that he felt spending time talking about the petition further divides the people of Richwood. Other residents have said that they felt tricked by certain board members into signing the petition because they knew that a certain number of signatures were needed to recall Brown as mayor. Some residents contend, as Brown has, that the choice of choosing who they want as mayor is being taken away from them through a recall. Brown has said that he was aware of recall talk earlier in the year and has only addressed the issue now that a recall vote to remove him as mayor will happen. Recall organizers allege that the recall petition clearly stated that the purpose was to remove Brown as mayor. The name of the person being recalled was written out and stated his current position was as mayor. The petition adhered to state election laws, as voters who signed their names were verified by the state, and the recall petition was approved. An election date is now set for November 13, 2021. It looks as though the argument to recall Brown will be fought in the court of public opinion.

Brown says that valuable time is being wasted and that instead, it is time for people to come together and work on things that are truly important. Those residents who believe their choice to choose their mayor is being taken away are not entirely true because a certain number of voters also believe that the option to remove an elected official is supported by a recall petition. If enough residents believe that their choice is being taken away or that they were tricked, they can vote to keep Brown in power. Some residents may not have thoroughly read the petition before they signed it, but the petition allegedly stated that it was to remove Brown from power. Now that the community knows what is going on, it is once again the voters of Richwood who will have the final word. This battle will be fought in the arena of public opinion.