(WWJ) The Michigan State Board of Canvassers will meet Monday morning to consider two recall petitions targeting Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
One of the petitions says Whitmer should be recalled because she shutdown businesses during the coronavirus pandemic that contributed to the unemployment rate jumping to more than 22% in April.
A second recall effort was filed because the governor signed an emergency declaration and many executive orders connected to the spread of the virus across Michigan, which was for many weeks a hotspot for COVID-19 transmission and death. The petition says the stay home orders were not necessary to sustain or protect life.
More than 362,000 people signed a change.org petition to recall the governor, with organizers claiming, "Her failures during the COVID-19 Corona Virus is causing more Michiganders to get sick. Closing and banning various non essential business’s and activities while leaving others open. Further promoting the pandemic. She has lied since day one with her #Fixthedamnroads which she has failed to do anything in this regards. The response to #PFAS was negligence and completely removing funding for #PureMichigan clearly shows her lack of anything positive for the State of Michigan."
Messages from supporters of the petition include, "She's killing Michiganders," and "she's lost and unable to lead the state."
Susak Dykhaus wrote, "Using fear to justify her unnecessary and and confusing restrictions. Disrespectful to our president and the residents of Michigan. Pompous. Untrustworthy."
This recall discussion comes a weekend after Whitmer announced the loosening of many restrictions across Michigan. Today, bars and restaurants are allowed to reopen for dine-in, and on June 15, hair salons, gyms, spas, theaters, performance spaces and sports venues will also be allowed to re-open with capacity limits, social distancing and other safety measures.
An earlier effort to recall Whitmer was launched on April 17 and rejected May 22 by the Michigan Board of State Canvassers, citing "unclear language and factual errors with the petition's reasons for recall," per ballotpedia.