Resident files recall petition against York County Commissioner

YORK COUNTY – A resident of York County has filed a recall petition against York County Commissioner LeRoy Ott. 

Ott was appointed as a commissioner to fulfill a vacancy on the board for District 2 and then was elected in the 2024 election cycle.
Julia Wellman of rural Waco has filed the recall petition, with this formal statement of her reasons: “Perceived lack of trust in his ability to lead effectively.”
Ott now has 20 days to file a formal response, which will appear alongside Wellman’s statement on the petition.
York County Clerk Mary Melby explained how the process will then work. Once Ott files his official response, her office can create and provide the petition papers to Wellman. If Ott does not file a response, they will prepare the petitions at the end of the 20-day period.
Wellman can circulate the petition once they are in her possession, in District 2. She will need to gather 442 signatures from registered voters in that district in order for a recall election to take place. The number is calculated by state law, which says it must be 35% of the total number of votes for that particular position in the last election.
Wellman has 30 days to circulate the petition.
If the 442 number is achieved, the clerk’s office then has 15 days to check the validity of the signatures, Melby said.
If the minimum number of signatures is achieved, Melby said the county board will have to pass a resolution to hold a special election. If they do not create the resolution, there are hefty penalties, according to state law, she said.
Then, if an election is held, it will be done by mail following state certification.
If an election is held, the decision regarding a recall will be based on the majority vote among registered voters in District 2.