Tom Bauer - Recall

Recall

Bauer's support for redevelopment efforts generated significant controversy. Especially controversial was Bauer's occasional support of eminent domain for these projects. Opposition crystallized around a proposal to use eminent domain to acquire and demolish several homes and small businesses for a new gas station and convenience store. Several residents of the neighborhood began circulating petitions to have Bauer recalled from office.

Bauer lashed out at his opponents. He filed a lawsuit against several leaders of the recall campaign. The lawsuit, which Bauer's opponents characterized as a SLAPP suit, generated further outrage. The opponents were able to gather enough signatures to trigger a recall election. In the aftermath of the Supreme Court's Kelo v New London decision, eminent domain was one of the most prominent issues. In the recall election on September 20, 2005, 61% voted to remove Bauer from office.

The recall created a vacancy on the Board of Aldermen, and a special election was called to fill the seat. Both the Democratic and Republican party nominated candidates for the seat. Bauer also collected petiton signatures and filed to run as an independent.

The campaign was again marked by negative campaigning. Bauer ran newspaper and cable television advertising attacking his Democratic opponent for failing to pay his property taxes on time, and noting an arrest for failure to pay a traffic ticket. As in his past campaigns Bauer's pet donkey Scotty appeared on his campaign signs, along with the label "Independent Democrat". Since Bauer was not the Democratic nominee, the city's Democratic party, led by chairman Brian Wahby sued to prevent him from using the term "Democrat" or the Democratic symbol of the donkey in his campaign literature. About a week before the election, a settlement was reached allowing Bauer to continue to use the donkey, but requiring him to remove the word "Democrat" from any of his campaign materials.

The special election was held on December 13, 2005. Bill Waterhouse, the Democratic nominee, was elected with 51% of the vote. Bauer received 26.7% of the vote, and the Republican candidate received 22.3%.

Bauer again challenged Waterhouse in the Democratic Primary of 2007. In the March 6, 2007, Primary Election, Waterhouse handily beat Bauer with nearly 58 percent of the vote in a two-way race .