James Gosey and Dulani Masimini recall, Forest Hill, Texas (2010)

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A vote on whether to recall James Gosey and Dulani Masimini from their positions as mayor and city council members in Forest Hill, Texas is currently stalled.

A review of recall signatures determined that enough people signed petitions to schedule a recall vote; however, on May 4, the Forest Hill City Council declined to schedule a vote on the recall and said it was "a dead issue". On July 6, the city council voted again, 4-2, not to schedule a recall vote.

Robert Shanklin, a former councilmember, is one leader in the recall effort. One motivation for the recall was the city council's 4-2 vote on December 1, 2009 to remove City Manager David Miller. The recall petitions also mentioned misconduct, violation of the city charter and abuse of power. Gosey was accused of circumventing state bid laws and of expecting city staff to disregard code requirements. Masimini was accused of credit card misuse.

The recall vote will be the third recall election in Forest Hill in five years. Mayor Malinda Miller was recalled in 2005 because of controversy over a financial settlement entered into between the city and a former city manager that she supported.

City manager hired

In advance of the recall vote, the city announced that it had hired a new city manager for a term of one year. Sheyi Ipaye will be the city's third city manager in six years.

Mustafa Sami suspended

City council member Mustafa Sami was suspended from the city council for three months starting on July 22, 2010. This was based on "on allegations that he improperly used his city-issued credit card to pay for $1,200 in personal items, including hotel rooms and meals."

Path to the ballot

248 verified signatures are required to force a recall vote.

Election officials originally said that recall supporters had not turned in enough signatures to force a recall, but this determination was overturned on review.

When election officials announced in early March that petitioners had failed to provide enough signatures, recall organizer Ozell Birks indicated that recall supporters would continue with their efforts: "We know the little game, and it had nothing to do with the signatures. This is just another chapter in the corruption. It's our right to have a recall process."

City refuses to schedule vote

On May 4, by a vote of 3-1, the Forest Hill City Council voted against holding a recall election in November. According to a local newspaper, after the recall group submitted its recall signatures in February, "...acting City Secretary Grace Edwards couldn't settle questions about the validity of the signatures in time."

In response to this decision, recall leader Ozell Birks said his group planned to meet with a district judge: "We want to go before a district judge to call for a special election because [the council] messed us around. Our rights as citizens are being thrown in our face."

About Forest Hill

Forest Hill is a suburb of Fort Worth in Tarrant County, Texas. Its population was 12,949 as of the 2000 census.

See also

• Recall campaigns in Texas
• Political recall efforts, 2010
• City council recalls

External links

Wikipedia has an article on:

Forest Hill

• City of Forest Hill
• Incumbent Forest Hill councilman not surprised by election