Voters can look to Killeen Tax Payers for Responsible and Accountable Governance in the upcoming weeks ahead of the Nov. 8 Killeen City Council recall election. Keeping voters updated on issues and activities related to the election will be the focus of this citizen watchdog group formed last spring during the petition drive that forced the upcoming election.
The Texas history implications of registered Killeen voters petitioning to recall all seven of their city council members was significant. Although one was defeated in a May re-election bid and another has since resigned, five remaining council members still face the recall effort thus maintaining the election’s “compelling issue” status.
Per KTPRAG, seven months have elapsed since the Killeen City Council first voted to spend $750,000 buying out the employment contract of former City Manager Connie Green and then resisted providing a credible explanation to outraged taxpayers. “Whether delays, distractions and denials have effectively quelled voter outrage will be determined with the Nov. 8 election in which five current city council members – Juan Rivera, Larry Cole, Kenny Wells, Billy Workman and Mayor Pro-Tem Scott Cosper – still face being recalled due to their lack of transparency and accountability with regard to the Green employment issue.”
The group says the impact of delaying the recall election and the months-long “business as usual” attitude put forth by the council is still unknown. These efforts are characterized as “an attempt to seemingly deflect voter discontentment” and, per KTPRAG, the city’s anticipated elimination of the Killeen City Hall polling place, a traditional municipal election early voting location, is one more factor that could influence the election process.
KTPRAG expects the weeks prior to the election to be busy. Recall petition organizer Jonathan Okray has permits for a series of protests prior to the city council meetings starting Tuesday, Sept. 13. He and other concerned citizens will gather each week at 5:30 p.m. outside the Killeen City Hall, 101 N. College St.
“There is a lot going on in our city. There are many decisions being made that we have to get involved with and tuned in to. Hope to see you there,” Okray said upon announcing the events on the KTPRAG Facebook page .
Bumper stickers with a “Recall Them All – Vote 11/08/2011″ theme, are also available and feature slogans like “$750K Gone w/o an Answer?” and “$750K ‘Their’ Say. Have Yours 11/8. Recall ‘the Unfab 5.’”
The KTPRAG’s anticipation of an active run-up to the election indeed seems likely. One big unknown is a lawsuit pending before a U.S. District Court in Waco . The suit, filed by Okray and two other Killeen residents, alleges the city failed to follow the proper legal recall election timeline as prescribed in its charter. A ruling on this suit could come down at any time.
In addition to the election timeframe, questions have been raised regarding the overall recall petition process including aspects of the 2005 changeover to single-member districts, a move apparently not fully addressed in the city charter. Charter provisions stating no recall petition can be filed against a council member within six months after he takes office – a status that could apply to Wells and Rivera – could also become an issue.
Charter amendments may originate in several different manners, but ultimate approval of changes lies with the council. How ironic that the governing body that failed to produce a document reflecting policy cohesion and continuity may be best served by such an inferior performance. With legal gamesmanship a routine component of politically contentious situations, KTPRAG is correct that the weeks prior to this election could bring an as yet unknown array of activity.
People today are tired of government that freely spends taxpayer funds yet resists, sometimes with open contempt, accounting for its actions. “We will be trying to recall to people’s memory why we are having a recall,” Okray said in a recent Killeen Daily Herald article .
The Killeen Tax Payers for Responsible and Accountable Governance group is looking out for taxpayers. One can’t easily make the case that the Killeen City Council is doing the same.