Judge rejects effort to block recall election of 3 Homer City Council members
An Anchorage Superior Court judge on Tuesday denied an attempt to block a recall election for three Homer City Council members who sponsored an "inclusivity resolution" that originated as a critique of the policies of President Donald Trump.
In a ruling late Tuesday afternoon, Judge Erin Marston said he agreed with Homer city attorneys that elected officials can't claim First Amendment protections as a shield against a voter-initiated recall. While governments must comply with First Amendment protections on freedom of speech, private parties, like those seeking the recall, don't have that obligation, Marston wrote.
The city can proceed with the special election set for June 13 in Homer, Marston wrote.
The recall alleges Homer City Council members Donna Aderhold, David Lewis and Catriona Reynolds are unfit for office.
Read more: https://www.adn.com/politics/2017/05/23/judge-rejects-effort-to-block-recall-election-of-3-homer-city-council-members/