Recall effort begins against county commissioner
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. -- The Douglas County Clerks Office says that a recall petition against Douglas County Commissioner Joe Laurance was approved Wednesday morning.
The petitioners will need 6,500 valid signatures by May 1.
Douglas County Clerk Patty Hitt says that the Chief Petitioner is Terry McVay. He told KPIC News, "I just think that after reading the papers, he needed to be recalled."
According to the recall cover sheet, McVay claims that Laurance acted outside his official capacity as an elected official, and that he conducted himself in a manner inconsistent with his office.
McVay claims that county employees told him Laurance repeatedly used profanity and that, "His conduct has been described as that of a bully employing intimidating speech and physical posture."
He says he doesn't think he will have any problems getting enough signatures.
Commissioner Laurance denies the accusations, and says that if people talk with county workers, they would deny the accusations as well.
He also says the results of the current investigation will also clear his name. "I'm confident that when that process is completed, this will become a non-issue."
He says it all boils down to politics. "In terms of where this has come from, in the first time in five years, anything of this magnitude... I've got to tell you, it's simply local politics.
If the election were to move forward, Hitt estimates the cost to the county would be between $40,000 - $60,000.
Commissioner Laurance came under fire back in December, where a former county employee Gene Hall, says Laurance flashed a badge and presented himself as law enforcement.
The two reportedly exchanged heated words, and afterwards Hall filed an informational report with the Roseburg police.
No charges have been filed against Laurance, but the Jackson County District Attorney's office is looking into the incident.
