Taxpayers to Recall State Representative Robert Dean

State Representative Robert Dean, apparently afraid of the prospect of facing his constituents in a recall election, has filed suit to try and overturn the very state law that allows citizens to have recall elections. Jeff Steinport, spokesperson for the Dean Recall effort, said in reaction to the suit, “Mr. Dean apparently hasn’t read the constitution he has sworn to uphold. Article II, Section 8 of the Michigan Constitution clearly affords the citizens of Michigan the fundamental right to initiate a recall. We wonder why Mr. Dean rejects democracy.”

Representative Dean faces the increasingly likely prospect that he will face a recall election in 2008. Steinport continued, “Mr. Dean seems unable to justify his vote for a gargantuan and destructive tax increase, so it appears he is trying to stop the recall through the courts rather than face the voters.”

Robert Dean voted in October to increase the state income tax and to expand the state’s sales tax to several services. His votes increased taxes by $1.5 billion a year, which will wallop the average family with $400 in new taxes each year. Mr. Dean also refused to vote for any cuts in state spending. While families in Michigan struggle to keep up with increasing costs of living and a one-state recession, Robert Dean voted to ensure that businesses and jobs continue to leave.

For reference, we quote Article II, Section 8 of the Michigan Constitution:

Laws shall be enacted to provide for the recall of all elective officers except judges of courts of record upon petition of electors equal in number to 23 percent of the number of persons voting in the last preceding election for the office of governor in the electoral district of the officer sought to be recalled. The sufficiency of any state of reasons or grounds procedurally required shall be political rather than a judicial question.

On Monday, December 17, a recall “boot camp” was held to train volunteers and distribute petitions to recall State Representative Robert Dean. About two dozen volunteers from Grand Rapids gathered at Country Inn & Suites on the East Beltline to hear from Kendra Matco, the chairperson of Taxpayers to Recall State Representative Robert Dean, as well as from Leon Drolet, of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance.

Drolet, in explaining the recall process, reminded the volunteers that a recall is, “the most democratic of political processes.” A recall, which requires the signatures of 25% of the number of voters from the latest gubernatorial election, has the highest citizens participation requirement of any petitioning process.  He went on, “It is the constitutional right of citizens to engage in a recall. Our constitution specifically requires that recalls be about politicians who made extremely poor decisions while in office, as Robert Dean has done.”

Jeff Steinport, spokesman for the recall effort, stated that, “Dean voted YES on one of the largest state income tax increases in Michigan history. He did this at a time when Michigan families are struggling to pay their mortgages and keep their homes.”

“State Representative Robert Dean voted to increase our taxes by 1.5 billion dollars a year. That’s $400 in new taxes per household in Michigan,” said Steinport. “Our state’s economy is already the worst in the nation, and Robert Dean voted to make sure it stays that way.”

If you are interested in assisting, please contact us by sending an email to info@deanrecall.org.