05/01/08:JOHN NICHOLS: Could Sheriff Mahoney Face a Recall? - Immigrant Workers Union
Evjue - A Wisconsin Politics blog.
Cap Times associate editor John Nichols gives his views on all things politics.
There is talk today about recalling Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney, whose practice of notifying federal officials regarding the immigration status of inmates held in the county jail has stirred resentment.
The top demand on the list posted for this afternoon's immigrant rights rally at Brittingham Park was: "Sheriff Dave Mahoney to Step down Immediately."
The sheriff won't do that.
So the next step, which has been discussed by some activists, is to launch a recall drive, with the purpose of forcing a special election at which Mahoney could be removed by the voters.
The notion of attempting to remove the popular sheriff, a Democrat who was easily elected in 2006 with strong support from liberals, is rooted in sincere concern. But it is difficult to imagine that, if a recall effort is initiated, it will actually succeed.
Recall campaigns are huge endeavors that require the collection of thousands of petition signatures from thousands of voters and then a series of elections. Such campaigns often fail to gather the required signatures. And, it the requirement was met, it is still quite possible that Mahoney would win a recall election.
In a recall election campaign, which would probably take place at the same time as this fall's presidential voting, Mahoney would make the case that he is not anti-immigrant. Rather, the sheriff would say -- as he frequently has in recent weeks -- that while he thinks federal and state officials should do more to address immigration issues in a humane and responsible manner, he also believes that "all law enforcement agencies... have an obligation to work together."
The Immigrant Workers Union argues that the practice of notifying federal officials of jailed inmates' immigration status promotes racial and ethnic division that have no place in liberal Madison or Dane County.
The debate's an appropriate one.
Public officials, especially those with law enforcement authority, need to be challenged on a regular basis -- especially when matters of justice for the poor and the victimized are at stake.
But it is difficult to imagine that a recall campaign, in which the sheriff would present himself as a moderate player who is sympathetic to immigrants but believes in working with other law-enforcement agencies, would succeed in capturing the imagination of Dane County's electorate.
Cap Times associate editor John Nichols gives his views on all things politics.
5/01/2008 11:53 am
The Capital Times
There is talk today about recalling Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney, whose practice of notifying federal officials regarding the immigration status of inmates held in the county jail has stirred resentment.
The top demand on the list posted for this afternoon's immigrant rights rally at Brittingham Park was: "Sheriff Dave Mahoney to Step down Immediately."
The sheriff won't do that.
So the next step, which has been discussed by some activists, is to launch a recall drive, with the purpose of forcing a special election at which Mahoney could be removed by the voters.
The notion of attempting to remove the popular sheriff, a Democrat who was easily elected in 2006 with strong support from liberals, is rooted in sincere concern. But it is difficult to imagine that, if a recall effort is initiated, it will actually succeed.
Recall campaigns are huge endeavors that require the collection of thousands of petition signatures from thousands of voters and then a series of elections. Such campaigns often fail to gather the required signatures. And, it the requirement was met, it is still quite possible that Mahoney would win a recall election.
In a recall election campaign, which would probably take place at the same time as this fall's presidential voting, Mahoney would make the case that he is not anti-immigrant. Rather, the sheriff would say -- as he frequently has in recent weeks -- that while he thinks federal and state officials should do more to address immigration issues in a humane and responsible manner, he also believes that "all law enforcement agencies... have an obligation to work together."
The Immigrant Workers Union argues that the practice of notifying federal officials of jailed inmates' immigration status promotes racial and ethnic division that have no place in liberal Madison or Dane County.
The debate's an appropriate one.
Public officials, especially those with law enforcement authority, need to be challenged on a regular basis -- especially when matters of justice for the poor and the victimized are at stake.
But it is difficult to imagine that a recall campaign, in which the sheriff would present himself as a moderate player who is sympathetic to immigrants but believes in working with other law-enforcement agencies, would succeed in capturing the imagination of Dane County's electorate.
Submitted by wnpj on Mon, 05/12/2008 - 10:17am.