Group considers filing Simon recall
Liberty Lobby intends to gauge citizens? opposition to mayor
By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer
A Bellevue-based group that is seeking to legalize marijuana in Idaho has drafted a petition to recall Ketchum Mayor Ed Simon and is determining whether it will be officially submitted.
The Liberty Lobby of Idaho, headed by Chairman Ryan Davidson, last week filed with Ketchum City Clerk Sandy Cady draft language for a recall petition that alleges Simon should be removed from office for numerous reasons, including ?restricting free speech? and ?engaging in petty personnel battles.?
The draft document also alleges that Simon should be recalled because he has denied citizens the right to petition, has attempted to prosecute City Council President Randy Hall ?for serving as a volunteer fireman,? has wasted city money and time ?pursuing frivolous legal matters,? and has held ?illegal closed-door? meetings.
?We haven?t made any permanent decisions on it,? Davidson said Friday. ?We?re examining the options.?
On Tuesday, after city officials told Davidson the draft petition is essentially correct in form and could be filed if The Liberty Lobby acquired the signatures of 20 Ketchum voters, Davidson said he intended to gauge the sentiments of city voters before moving ahead with the recall.
The Liberty Lobby appeared on the local scene in September, when it put forth initiatives in Ketchum, Sun Valley and Hailey to have citizens vote on whether the cities should legalize the sale and use of marijuana.
On Aug. 25, Davidson filed with the three cities an initiative petition that demands the respective city councils put before voters new ordinances that would, among other things, direct the cities to tax and regulate the sale of marijuana for use by adults.
On Sept. 20, Ketchum City Council members formally directed Cady to reject the cannabis petition filed with her office.
In presenting his case to the council, Davidson stated that he does not use marijuana but believes voters should have the opportunity to decide if the substance should legalized for limited use. The argument was received with several jokes, prompting laughter among Simon and the council.
Davidson last week said The Liberty Lobby regards the city?s decision as a fault in leadership and a restriction of the democratic process.
He said he is most concerned with Simon?s handling of the marijuana petition but included the other allegations against the mayor in his draft recall petition to allow any concerned citizens to sign on?if it is submitted.
?I think there are a lot of people in Ketchum who have their own reasons for wanting to recall the mayor,? Davidson said.
For his part, Simon seems undaunted by the possibility the petition could be filed.
When asked Monday for a reaction to the matter, the mayor sarcastically surmised the petition was filed on ?Zig Zag paper,? referring to the popular brand of cigarette rolling papers used by some to smoke marijuana.
Then, in a more serious tone, Simon said he believes ?The Liberty Lobby is desperate to raise publicity for their cause.?
As for the numerous charges listed on the draft petition, Simon said: ?It leads me to believe they have inhaled.?
Davidson said Simon?s reactions to The Liberty Lobby?s marijuana petition have been a point of contention since September.
?He?s tried to turn this into a big joke,? Davidson said. ?He?s probably not going to think it?s a joke if he loses his office for the second time in his career.?
Indeed, Simon has been recalled from office once before. When he was serving as a Ketchum City Council member in 1992, Simon and two council colleagues were recalled by city voters following a turbulent year spent debating personnel issues.
Davidson?who has filed a lawsuit against the city of Sun Valley objecting to the rejection of his marijuana petition?said he will likely sue the city of Ketchum soon if he does not proceed with the recall.
Cady said the recall petition would have to be filed with the signatures of 20 registered city voters. If the petition is filed properly, she said, the petitioner will then have 75 days to gather the supportive signatures of 379 voters, a figure equal to 20 percent of the number of registered voters in Ketchum in 2003.
The earliest a recall election could be held in Ketchum would be early February 2005, Cady said.
