Recall Petition Against Sidney Township Trustee Jed Welder

Recall wording was filed on November 1, 2021, against Jed Welder from his position of Sidney Township Trustee. One wording was approved by the Election Commission on November 12, 2021. Petitions may now be circulated.

The following wording was approved by the Election Commission:

On July 5, 2021 Sidney Township Trustee Jed Welder voted nay on the Sidney Township Wind Energy Ordinance, Number 2021-01.

This wording may now be circulated on Recall Petitions and is valid for 180 days. In order for a Recall Election to move forward, 274 signatures of registered Sidney Township voters, must be obtained. At the time of filing the petitions with the county clerk, no signature may be considered if it is more than 60 days old. The latest date the recall petitions can be filed in order to have this recall placed on the May 2022 ballot, is January 28, 2022 at 4 pm

Mr. Welder has until November 22, 2021 to file an appeal in Circuit Court if he wishes to appeal the decision of the Election Commission. Should he file an appeal, the circulation of petitions must stop while the appeal is pending.

Recall Petitions were filed with the County Clerk on January 21, 2022. It appears there are 306 valid signatures. 274 valid signatures were required. Mr. Welder has until February 15, 2022 to issue any challenges to the petitions and signatures. Once the County Clerk Calls for the Special Recall Election, which is anticipated on Friday, February 18th, the Democratic Party will have 10 days to nominate a candidate to run for Sidney Township Trustee if they chose. As Mr. Welder ran as a Republican candidate on the November 2020 General Election, and was elected, he will automatically appear on the ballot as the Republican candidate. Additionally, anyone else that would like to run for the position, as a No Party Affiliation candidate, may circulate Qualifying Petitions and obtain between 9 -30 signatures to appear on the ballot. That filing deadline will be Monday, February 28, 2022 at 4 pm with the Montcalm County Clerk. The top vote-getter between all of the candidates running for Sidney Township Trustee will be declared the elected Trustee.