What will recall accomplish?

With Maui’s next mayoral election just a year away, what do organizers of the effort to recall Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino hope to accomplish?

Let’s suppose they get the required 21,586 in-person signatures of registered voters in 30 days to force a recall election. Even if Victorino were to lose that election, it’s not like it would bring major change to the county building’s ninth floor. By law, Victorino would step down and his next in charge, Managing Director Sandy Baz, would take over as mayor and finish the term.

Baz is his own man and has his own leadership style, but it’s fair to assume his policies more or less align with Victorino’s.

The Maui News quoted recall organizers last week saying it was launched due to concerns over COVID-19 mandates, the administration’s transparency during the pandemic and other grievances that include water needs and housing issues. What role did Victorino’s refusal to grant a county permit for the most recent Mandate Free Maui Rally and March play?

It is telling that recall organizers claim they are already worried about the “integrity and legitimacy” of the recall election. In doing so, they cast undue shade on the hard-working and honest staffers at the County Clerk’s Office, and also set the stage to cry foul if the effort does not go their way. We didn’t lose the election, it was stolen. Sound familiar?

Recall signatures must be turned in by Nov. 20. The Clerk’s Office will have 20 days to confirm them. After vetting, if the numbers fall short, the petitioners will have another 20 days to supplement their signatures. If presented with enough valid John Hancocks, the Maui County Council will call for an election to be held in no fewer than 60 days and not more than 90. This would probably put the recall election in the February-April range of 2022.

County Clerk Kathy Kaohu and her staff are currently working out how much this will cost and how much manpower will be required. Last week, she said there is a contingency line item in her budget for $250,000 to spend on a recall, but noted that less-populous Kauai County has currently allocated $475,000 to hold a special election to replace a retired prosecuting attorney.

This recall will probably cost at least that much. It is a waste of time and taxpayer money that subverts our electoral system. If Victorino runs for reelection, voters who don’t like his policies will have the opportunity to vote him out next year in the primary and/or general elections.