Providence Board of Canvassers Flip-Flop on Councilman Jackson Recall
Monday, October 24, 2016
The Providence Board of Canvassers has reversed itself on two major elements of the battle over the recall of City Councilman Kevin Jackson.
According to a letter signed by the three members of the Board of Canvassers sent to Jackson’s lawyer late on Friday, the Board will now allow a hearing and hear objections.
“It is critical that there is reasonable due process — Jackson was fairly elected. We have questions about some of the petitions, who signed them, and there are clearly some real questions. Whether there is something fraudulent, that is a question for law enforcement,” said Artin Coloian, one of Jackson’s attorneys.
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After meetings between the City of Providence and attorneys for Jackson in chambers with Superior Court Judge Richard Licht, the parties were instructed to mutually come to agreements on allowing Jackson a hearing - and Jackson’s attorneys a reasonable period of time to submit objections.
Previously, the city had barred Jackson from the opportunity to be heard before the Board.
Last week, GoLocal was first to report Jackson's lawsuit against the Board of Canvassers and the two organizers of the recall effort -- read the lawsuit below.
It is unclear how the Board authorized the new procedures outlined in Friday’s letter. The Board did not hold a meeting and did not advertise a public meeting. All three members of the Board signed the letter.
In part, the letter from the Board states, ”It is our understanding that your client needs additional time in order to prepare specific objections to the over three hundred (300) signatures submitted to initiate the recall of your client. The Board is amenable to extending the deadline to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 28, 2016.”
Related Slideshow: Jackson Files 58 Page Lawsuit
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