Group files recall for councilman
SWARM cites ‘racist,’ ‘anti-democratic behavior’ in effort against District Five’s Eddie Kabacinski
A recall petition targeting Warren District Five Councilman Eddie Kabacinski was filed Wednesday by resident Bridget Quinn, a member of the South Warren Alliance of Radical Movement (SWARM).
The recall petition is the second filed for Kabacinski in as many weeks.
Quinn said the recall effort has the support of the Official Macomb County Democratic Black Caucus and the Warren Area Democratic Club.
The petition cites Kabacinski’s participation in a counterprotest to SWARM’s “March Against Racism” last September in support of an African American family in District Five whose home was attacked on multiple occasions and “a pattern of racist, erratic, and anti-democratic behavior” as reasons for the recall effort.
“I think one thing that is very clear is that Eddie Kabacinski has demonstrated hostility toward Black people in the City of Warren,” said Quinn. “His district is the most diverse. I think the reasons stated for the recall are extremely important.”
During a Sept. 22 city council meeting, Kabacinski called protesters at the March Against Racism “terrorists’’ and said they should be arrested. Quinn and the members of SWARM see that as a threat to District Five residents and a reason for the recall.
“On top of the fact he is clearly racist, he is exhibiting actions that
are fascist,” said Quinn. “He only believes in law and order if it is on his side.”
Quinn also referenced an incident in October when Kabacinski, while attending a Trump rally in Eastpointe, allegedly chased and handcuffed a Black Lives Matter protester. He was charged with impersonating a police officer, a one-year misdemeanor, and assault and battery, a 93day misdemeanor, for his actions in that incident.
“That does not sound like democracy or like a council person who is ready to represent all of his constituents,” said Quinn. “Do Black and Brown residents feel safe going to Mr. Kabacinski with their concerns? I will leave them to speak to that but my thought is that they do not.”
In order to prompt a recall election, signatures reflecting 25 percent of the number of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election must be collected. That means about 3,000 signatures will need to be gathered.
The Official Macomb County Black Caucus and the Warren Area Democratic Club will manage the gathering of the signatures which will require some creativity due to COVID.
“I don’t think a lot of people are going to be comfortable going door-to- door,” said Black Caucus President and Warren resident Joel Rutherford. “I think we will be setting up places with petitions where people can sign safely in various outdoor locations.”
Rutherford said there is a sense of urgency to recall Kabacinski because he appears to be “out of control.” The next city council election is in three years, which Rutherford said is too long to wait to try and make changes.
“Mr. Kabacinski has shown himself to be like the people that took over the U.S. Capitol today in Washington, D.C.,” said Rutherford. “He has shown himself to be out of control. That is not who we want on council and that is why the urgency. He is out of control and embarrassing the city.”
Kabacinski calls himself a conservative and a constitutionalist and has said in the past that he believes the people who criticize him just do not like the fact he is a Donald Trump supporter.
Rutherford said he has no issue with someone being conservative or supporting any specific candidate, but when expressing that support results in illegal activity, he draws the line.
“You can think what you think but if you cross the line of breaking the law, then you have gone too far,” said Rutherford.
Several residents, including Rutherford, called for Warren City Council to censure Kabacinski after he called for residents to be arrested and after he was charged with two misdemeanors in the Eastpointe incident. City Council President Patrick Green read a statement during an October meeting, but officials did not take any official action against Kabacinski. Rutherford said if the council had taken action, there might not have been a need for this recall.
“For me personally, because the council would take no action against him other than the statement, even if it was just ceremonial, it did not leave room for anything else but a recall,” said Rutherford.
The petition filed last week by Robert Boccomino and the Southeast Michigan Chamber of Commerce cited Kabacinski’s vote against a proposed settlement for the pending marijuana litigation against the City of Warren as the reason for the recall. Four other members of city council also voted against the settlement but to date, no recall petitions have been filed against them. Both Quinn and Rutherford question the language on that petition and how much popular support it will have. The issues of racism and displays of what Quinn deems violent behavior are of much more concern to District Five residents, Quinn said.
Quinn and Rutherford expect to begin collecting signatures in February if recall language is approved.