Iola City Council members Kendall Callahan and Ken Rowe were voted out of office Tuesday, the result of a successful recall drive.
The recall was included in Tuesday’s primary election.
According to unofficial results from the Allen County clerk’s office, 57 percent of the 253 voters from District 1 favored Callahan’s recall. Meanwhile, 66 percent of the 228 Fourth Ward voters supported Rowe’s ouster,.
The recall drive for both was spearheaded by Iolans For Good Government, a group of Iolans highly critical of the city council.
Both Rowe and Callahan were accused — as were others — of violating Kansas Opens Meetings Act by gathering informally in small groups to discuss city business.
Both Rowe and Callahan denied doing so, saying the meetings were allowed after the council formally disbanded council committees, which were subject to KOMA restrictions.
Callahan and Rowe also were accused of requesting executive, or private, sessions for such things as non-elected personnel or attorney-client discussions without giving a justification statement — a relatively obscure state law that has apparently been violated dozens of times by current and past city governors and school board members.
BOTH ROWE AND Callahan said the petition drive was sparked by many who supported former City Administrator Judy Brigham.
The council fired Brigham in August 2011, just days before she was set to retire.
Brigham has since filed a wrongful termination suit against Callahan, Rowe and other council members Beverly Franklin, Jim Kilby, Scott Stewart and Steve French, as well as City Attorney Chuck Apt.
Iolans For Good Government was formed shortly after Brigham’s firing.
THE RECALL opens two seats on the council, although those seats won’t become official until the state ratifies the primary vote later this month.
Mayor Bill Shirley said he would move quickly to appoint replacements for both. Both appointments must be approved by the remaining council members.
Neither Callahan nor Rowe returned calls this morning seeking comment.
