A group of Martinsville residents announced Tuesday that they are organizing a petition effort seeking the removal of Mayor LC Jones from City Council.
Patti Covington, identified as the principal administrator of the effort, alleged in a release from the group that “after over 18 agonizing months of scandal, disruption, fiscal mismanagement, and malfeasance, citizens are finally saying enough is enough. Every elected official has an ethical obligation to citizens, but the standard for our mayor as the official head of our city is even higher.”
According to the release, the petition drive began quietly last week and has collected more than one-third of the 375 signatures required to proceed. Organizers plan to collect additional signatures Saturday, Dec. 27, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the city’s recycling center on Market Street, across from Martinsville Middle School.
Virginia law does not provide for recall elections, but residents may pursue removal of certain elected officials through a petition process. Under that process, once a petition with the required number of verified signatures is submitted, the commonwealth’s attorney has 10 days to determine whether it meets legal requirements and is sufficient to move forward, according to the release.
If deemed sufficient, Martinsville Circuit Court would then have 10 days to schedule a hearing to determine whether the petition meets the legal threshold for removal based on law, facts and circumstances, the release stated.
The release further claimed that the court’s review would be informed by “current facts known to date” as well as an investigative report that City Council has declined to make public since August. The report, commonly referred to as the Sands Anderson report, was commissioned by the city and paid for with public funds. Three council members voted not to release it publicly.
According to the release, the petition alleges malfeasance and incompetence and claims that violations of Virginia law have occurred. A copy of the petition was not provided to the newspaper, and no criminal charges have been filed.
“Citizens of Martinsville who are disappointed and discouraged … We hope to see you at our drive-thru event on Saturday or by whatever means you can get a hold of us — email or Facebook,” said Mary Ann McConnell, a retired nurse who is helping with signature collection.
Jones responded in a written statement on Wednesday:
“Much like America, Martinsville, VA, is a city mired in moral, self-righteous ideology, where a small group believes their way, thoughts, and opinions are the ultimate authority, and anyone who challenges this privilege must be eradicated.
Unfortunately, in Martinsville, this small minority—less than 3 percent of the population—seeks to bully, harass, and assert their dominance over others in the community, from neighborhoods to businesses, media, and politics. Their focus has now turned to the elected Mayor, who, upon election, received the highest percentage of votes in the city council race. These baseless accusations and claims escalate in intensity each day. The recent losses in the city council elections have only pushed them further over the edge, as they refuse to accept or concede defeat.
What reasonable person would sign this petition without credible evidence supporting these claims? What reasonable person would even consider attempting to execute a man who has not yet been charged with any crime? This group and its political supporters claim that their justification for this movement is rooted in the law. Are these the same type of interpretations to justify the laws that executed seven young local men? Is it the same kind of interpretations to justify the law that allows masked men to remove families and children from their homes? Are these the same interpretations used to justify multiple homeless encampments across the city, so long as they are not in their neighborhoods?
Good citizens cannot remain silent while another business or citizen is destroyed. It is time for us to stand up. I have brought back funds to rebuild our parks, supported communities living in deplorable conditions despite others saying it’s not their problem, and stood by the media when their right to free press was challenged. I have also helped create programs to engage citizens of all ages. I am committed to continuing the fight for those less fortunate in our community. I ask my many supporters to continue to stand with me against the tyranny of a small few.”
