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Sandusky recall wording rejected

Petitioner to refile; alleges bias


Recall leader Rick Spiegel argues for approval of petition wording. (Photos by Eric Levine)

Recall leader Rick Spiegel argues for approval of petition wording. (Photos by Eric Levine)

The leader of a recall effort against four Sandusky school board members said he would resubmit petitions after wording on the original petitions was rejected by the Sanilac County Election Commission.

Rick Spiegel of Sandusky, a leader of Save the Redskin Logo, accused the election commission of bias in its decision.

The three-member commission met for a clarity hearing on Thursday, Dec. 29 to review the petitions filed by Spiegel against school board President Jason Trepkowski, board Treasurer Daniel Gerstenberger, and board Trustee Jane Jacobson.

Each of the three petitions cited the identical reason to remove the board members from elected office: “On November 28, 2022 at the Sandusky Community School Board meeting, (board member’s name) failed to represent the majority of the public after the community survey results showed that 88% of the registered voters in the Sandusky Community School District wanted Redskins as the school mascot/ logo. (Board member) voted yes to name the mascot/logo the Wolves at the school board meeting.”

Sandusky school board president Jason Trepkowski asks the election commission to reject the petitions.

Sandusky school board president Jason Trepkowski asks the election commission to reject the petitions.

Probate Judge Gregory Ross, who along with County Clerk Leslie Hilgendorf and County Treasurer Trudy Bowers, sits on the commission, explained the purpose of the hearing was to determine if the petition wording was clear and factual.

Ross emphasized the commission would only consider clarity and fact. He said the commission did not have the ability to consider if the wording was true or false.

“The purpose of today’s meeting is to determine whether each reason for the recall is stated in the petition as factual and of sufficient clarity to enable the officer whose recall is sought, and the electors, to identify the course of conduct that is the basis for recall,” Ross stated before each petition was considered separately.

Spiegel told the commission, “We had 88 percent of the community that wanted the (Redskin) name and logo back. They wouldn’t even look at that.”

The district courtroom at the courthouse was packed for last week’s hearing on the Sandusky school board recall petitions. (Photos by Eric Levine)

The district courtroom at the courthouse was packed for last week’s hearing on the Sandusky school board recall petitions. (Photos by Eric Levine)

Ross reminded Spiegel that the purpose of the hearing was not to consider the reason for the recall but only the clarity of the wording.

Trepkowski told the commission that the wording of the 88 percent was not factual because it was not a percentage of the registered voters.

Gerstenberger also challenged the wording as “not factual and clear,” stating that the 88 percent should refer to the number of surveys that were returned to the recall group. The group had mailed more than 4,000 surveys to voters in the district.

The commission rejected each petition by the same 2 to 1 vote, with Bowers and Hilgendorf voting no while Ross voted yes.

Bowers and Hilgendorf cited the same reason for their decision.

“Eighty-eight percent of what,” asked Hilgendorf, noting it was unclear if the percentage referred to the number of registered voters in the district or the number of people that returned the survey.

Hilgendorf said if she were asked to sign the petition, “I would want clarity on this.”

“My concern is that survey,” Bowers agreed. “The number is unclear to me, too.”

“I believe it is clear,” Ross said about the wording. “Whether it’s true is something different,” referring to the 88 percent.

Recall supporters Wilma Henderson and Kathy Spiegel, Rick’s wife, told the commission that the 88 percent accurately reflected the community’s position on wanting the Redskins logo restored.

Rick Spiegel accused the election commission of bias.

He said his group has done “research” and learned there are “friends on the school board.”

Spiegel did not provide details.

“Absolutely not,” said Hilgendorf, responding to Spiegel’s accusation. “I don’t know anyone on the board.”

Spiegel said after the hearing he would resubmit the petitions with new wording, which would require another clarity hearing. He also had the option of appealing the election commission’s ruling to circuit court within 10 days.

Approval of the petition wording would allow Spiegel to begin collecting signatures of voters to force a recall election. The number of signatures would need to equal 25 percent of the number of votes cast for governor in the school district in the last general election.

The threat of a recall has been rumored for months, ever since the school board voted in April to retire the Redskins mascot. In November, the board approved “Wolves” for the new mascot, based on the recommendation of a committee of students and results of a school-sponsored survey.