The election to determine whether a Franklinton alderman is to be removed from office will be held late this month.
The recall question for Alderman Heath Spears is the sole item on the March 26 ballot. Only registered voters living in the Town of Franklinton are eligible to vote.
Organizers of the recall petition have said that Spears does not live within the town limits and thus is not eligible to serve. But Spears has said that his home within the city limits was damaged by fire and he temporarily resided outside the city limits. Since then he has said that he now lives in town. At a recent meeting of the Franklinton Mayor and Alderman, Spears said he is serving the citizens of Franklinton regardless of the recall petition.
In the voting booth on March 26, voters will be asked to vote either yes or no for the recall of Spears.
If he is recalled, he will be removed from office immediately and a replacement alderman will be elected this fall. However, the mayor and alderman can, if they wish, appoint a temporary replacement who would hold office until a special election is held this fall. If the recall is unsuccessful and Spears is not removed, the matter will be dropped and the current make up of the Board of Aldermen will continue as it is. The next regular election for mayor and aldermen in Franklinton will occur in 2024.
Washington Parish Registrar of Voters Randy Strickland said he expects a turnout of approximately 20% to 25% for the March 26 recall election.
However, Strickland said that because there hasn’t been a recall election since he became Registrar of Voters, his turnout prediction is speculative. “It could be higher; it could be lower,” he commented.
