IRON MOUNTAIN — Four members of the Dickinson County Board have been targeted for recall after 2025 votes that a recall organizer says reduced public access to county government and eliminated county funding for the Michigan State University-Extension.

The recall effort is directed at Board Chair Dan Harrington of Breitung Township, who represents District 3; and commissioners Kevin Sullivan of Iron Mountain, District 2; Peter Swanson of Breitung Township, District 4; and Victoria Jakel of Norway, District 5.

In a news release, recall sponsor Jay Gibbs of Iron Mountain said “accountability” is the focus.

“Residents deserve agenda-free government, meaningful public input, and elected officials who understand that they serve the public,” Gibbs said.

The four commissioners, all Republicans, won four-year terms in the November 2024 election.

Gibbs said the recall language references actions taken during the commissioners’ current terms, including:

— Votes to eliminate county funding for the MSU-Extension Office, which Gibbs says resulted in the loss of local 4-H and community extension services.

— A vote to reduce the number of regular county board meetings, which Gibbs says limits opportunities for public comment and citizen participation.

The county board’s fifth member — Republican Joe Stevens of Kingsford — sought to retain county funding for MSU-Extension and also spoke against the board’s decision last year to reduce the number of regular meetings. Stevens is entering his 32nd year on the board.

By state law, recall language must be reviewed by the County Election Commission to determine whether each reason for recall is factual and of sufficient clarity. The Dickinson panel — which by statute consists of County Clerk Carol Bronzyk, County Treasurer Lorna Carey and Probate Judge Thomas Slagle — will review Gibbs’ petition once it is filed on the proper document, Bronzyk said at Monday’s county board meeting.

Initially, a Jan. 19 date had been set for the review, but Bronzyk explained that the wording must be refiled on a required petition sheet before it can be considered.

During Monday’s meeting, commissioners did not comment on the recall effort. Both Harrington and Swanson were excused due to travel commitments.

If the petition is found valid for circulation and there is no court appeal, the number of signatures needed to trigger a recall election will be 25% of the votes cast in the respective commissioner’s district for all candidates for the office of governor in the 2022 election.

According to Michigan Bureau of Elections guidelines, if a petition is successful, a special election is called on the next regular election date in May or November that is at least 95 days after the date the petition was filed. In this case, that requirement would likely mean an election date of Nov. 3.

The commissioner whose recall is sought is automatically listed as a candidate, while an opposing political party’s executive committee nominates a candidate as well. Candidates without political party affiliation may seek a spot on the ballot through a qualifying petition.

For commissioners serving four-year terms, the filing of a recall petition is not allowed during the first or last year of the term. Also, if the incumbent wins a recall election, no further recall petition may be filed against the same incumbent during the remainder of the term.

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Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.