Recall Update

Deadline to run in recall extended
By GORDON WEIXEL
Bismarck Tribune
9/15/2006

Want to run for Mandan City Commission, but didn't get your petitions in on time for the recall? Well you're in luck, the deadline has been extended to Thursday, Oct. 5, at 4 p.m.

Mandan officials, in conjunction with.... the secretary of state's office and Morton County auditor, determined that to fall within the parameters of state law, the deadline for petitions to run in the recall election had to be extended. The Century Code requires that petitions can be turned in until 33 days before the election, which is scheduled to coincide with the state's general election on Nov. 7.

Originally, the deadline for petitions had been set for Sept. 8.

Morton County auditor Paul Trauger said at a commission meeting earlier this week that he is ready to print the ballots for the general election, since absentee ballots must be available 40 days before the general election.

Commissioners said that he should go ahead and not wait until the city's deadline. A separate ballot will have to be printed for the city recall at the city's expense. Otherwise the city will enter into an agreement with Morton to conduct the special recall election on the same day as the general election.

Mandan's deputy auditor Phyllis Hager said that the city will have absentee ballots for the recall after Oct. 5. Petitions are available at City Hall and can also be printed from the Mandan city Web site. Interested individuals need to turn in a statement of interest along with petitions with the signatures of 300 Mandan residents to be placed on the ballot.

Mayor Ken LaMont and commissioners Sandy Tibke and Dan Ulmer will automatically be placed on the ballot since they have indicated they will run.

Three challengers have turned in petitions. Susan Beehler and Wes Eisenmann are running for mayor, while Kathy Parkes is seeking a seat as a commissioner.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)