Scott Boman - Carl Levin Recall Effort

Carl Levin Recall Effort

Boman was cosponsor of an unsuccessful effort to recall United States Senator Carl Levin of Michigan. Michigan law states that

“Persons holding the office of United States senator are subject to recall by the qualified and registered electors of the state as provided in chapter 36 of this act."

Boman and Warren Raftshol of Suttons Bay Michigan were granted a clarity review hearing with the Wayne County Election Commission on May 1, 2012. While the initial wording was rejected, the recall sponsors were able to use alternative wording and started circulating petitions on July 4, 2012, after Wayne County Election Chair, Milton Mack, refused to schedule a hearing for the revised language. Michigan law provides for such circumstances:

“(3) The board of county election commissioners, not less than 10 days or more than 20 days after submission to it of a petition for the recall of an officer, shall meet and shall determine whether each reason for the recall stated in the petition is of sufficient clarity to enable the officer whose recall is sought and the electors to identify the course of conduct that is the basis for the recall. Failure of the board of county election commissioners to comply with this subsection shall constitute a determination that each reason for the recall stated in the petition is of sufficient clarity to enable the officer whose recall is being sought and the electors to identify the course of conduct that is the basis for the recall.”

Inside Michigan Politics editor, Bill Ballenger commented on the effort saying “It is unheard of and extremely difficult to recall a congress person. Even if the language was deemed clear and petitions are circulated, it is likely they would be challenged in court.” Some analysts dispute the validity of state recall laws as they apply to members of Congress.

The petition language read,

“He co-authored and introduced an amendment regarding detention provisions (Subtitle D Section 1031) to S.1867 (the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012). He voted in favor of the final version (H.R. 1540) which contained the detention provisions in section 1021.”

This effort drew the support of People Against the National Defense Act (PANDA), a group of activists opposing the implementation of Indefinite Detention portion of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. PANDA promoted the petition and featured Boman as a sympathetic United States Senate candidate. The effort also drew support from some local Republican groups. In interviews, Boman said the recall effort was partially intended to raise public awareness about indefinite detentions; which he had been speaking out against since the bill was passed by Congress.

While petitioners failed to attain the 468,709 signatures needed, they initially expressed an intention to restart the effort after they reviewed new state recall laws. Plans to restart the effort were cancelled and organizers claimed an effective victory after Levin formally announced that he would not seek another term.