Weekend Poll: Does Wyoming Need A Law Allowing Recall Of Local Officials?

A bill that is being drafted for the 2027 session of the Wyoming Legislature would allow voters to recall city officials.

Rep. Ann Lucas [R-Cheyenne] says she wants to amend the proposal to include the recall of county commissioners.

You can read the working draft of the ''recall of elected municipal officials" bill here. It's under consideration in the legislature's Corporations, Elections, and Political Subdivisions Committee.

Lucas says the committee will take up the proposed recall bill again on December 10-11 in Cheyenne.

The measure, as currently written, would allow voters to petition for the removal of municipal officials serving four-year terms. The number of signatures required to trigger a recall vote would depend on how many voters are eligible to cast votes for the office.

.The Wyoming Constitution only allows for the recall of city officials under a "city commission' form of government. But no Wyoming community is currently governed by a city commission.There is currently no recall process for county officials.

A bill to allow recall of city officials passed the Wyoming House this year by a 58-5 vote. But it died in the Wyoming Senate, with 20 Senators voting against it and only 10 voting in favor.

Arguments In Favor Of Allowing The Recall Of Officials

Wyoming residents are often surprised to learn that there is no mechanism to recall city or county officials other than the one for a city commission, a form of government not actually used anywhere in the state.

Supporters say the current situation lets local officials ride roughshod over the public with no recourse open to residents. For example, data center opponents in Cheyenne have accused the City Council of ignoring public opinion on the issue, taking hours of public comment opposing the centers and then ignoring the comments with what many believe to be a predetermined decision.

Being elected to office should not give people dictatorial powers to ignore public opinion, according to supporters.

And what about cases of gross incompetence or failure to perform basic duties? Or even criminal behavior? Waiting until the next election may not address immediate issues.

Arguments Against Allowing For Recall Of Officials

Opponents see several problems with a recall law.

They would argue that people who run for the city council or county commission are, for the most part, honest, hard-working individuals who want to do the right thing. You certainly don't get rich on the city council. Most people serve in local office with the best of intentions. Sometimes doing the right thing may mean going against public opinion. That doesn't mean the decision is the wrong one.

We elect smart people to make tough choices that won't always be popular. They need to be free to make unpopular decisions where needed, keeping politics out of the equation, or so the argument goes.

Another concern is the possibility of a constant stream of recall elections. After all, you can't keep everybody happy. Recall elections won't be conducive to good, effective government and could be a huge distraction.