Elaine Tholen's recall is goin to court

[Anonymous]

It hasn't been thrown out yet!

[Anonymous]

Glad we have the ability to work toward a recall of elected officials. I hope the #OpenFCPS group prevails. We need new school board members who better represent residents of Fairfax County.

[Anonymous]

Gone Girl?

[Anonymous]

This is great news! Cohen is next!

[Anonymous]

Let's break this down. As a practical matter, this means the circuit court judge was satisfied the signatures were legitimately collected and properly presented. Once she so concluded, the issuance of the "order to show cause" to Tholen was mandated under Virginia law. It doesn't mean the court will ultimately order a new election, or decide that Tholen should be removed. It does mean the burden has shifted to Tholen to establish that she didn't violate her responsibilities as a School Board member.

Odds are that Tholen will still prevail. But even if it doesn't lead to her removal from office in 2021, Tholen has been weak and self-serving and Dranesville should elect a different School Board member in 2023.

[Anonymous]

Is there a file with all the petition signatures available? Have to confess that I'm interested to see who signed...

[Anonymous]

Guys, no judge is going to want to set the legal precedent that would allow a small subset of the electorate the ability to get an elected official thrown out outside of regular election cycle just because those people didn't agree with the way the elected official handled a particular issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Guys, no judge is going to want to set the legal precedent that would allow a small subset of the electorate the ability to get an elected official thrown out outside of regular election cycle just because those people didn't agree with the way the elected official handled a particular issue.

You should volunteer to write Elaine's court brief for her since you're so certain how this will come out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Guys, no judge is going to want to set the legal precedent that would allow a small subset of the electorate the ability to get an elected official thrown out outside of regular election cycle just because those people didn't agree with the way the elected official handled a particular issue.

Americans have the power to recall for a reason.

[Anonymous]

Fantastic!!

Thank you #openfcps and petition volunteers for your tireless work on behalf of the students and quite frankly, the teachers who have been screwed repeatedly by this school board for well over a year.

The county owes you a debt of gratitude, particularly the many brave democrats who worked on the recall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Guys, no judge is going to want to set the legal precedent that would allow a small subset of the electorate the ability to get an elected official thrown out outside of regular election cycle just because those people didn't agree with the way the elected official handled a particular issue.

This, if all it takes is 5,000 signatures, I’d expect every elected official to be regularly recalled

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guys, no judge is going to want to set the legal precedent that would allow a small subset of the electorate the ability to get an elected official thrown out outside of regular election cycle just because those people didn't agree with the way the elected official handled a particular issue.

Americans have the power to recall for a reason.

it's a state right not a federal right and the signatures are the first step in a very long process

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guys, no judge is going to want to set the legal precedent that would allow a small subset of the electorate the ability to get an elected official thrown out outside of regular election cycle just because those people didn't agree with the way the elected official handled a particular issue.

Americans have the power to recall for a reason.

it's a state right not a federal right and the signatures are the first step in a very long process

It's not such a very long process.

Signatures are gathered and presented to circuit court - done

Signatures are reviewed for form - done


Order to show cause is issued to public official - done

Official appears in court and defends conduct - pending

Judge rules on whether official has rebutted grounds set forth in petition

- if yes, petition dismissed

- if so, official removed and new election ordered

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guys, no judge is going to want to set the legal precedent that would allow a small subset of the electorate the ability to get an elected official thrown out outside of regular election cycle just because those people didn't agree with the way the elected official handled a particular issue.

Americans have the power to recall for a reason.

it's a state right not a federal right and the signatures are the first step in a very long process

It's not such a very long process.

Signatures are gathered and presented to circuit court - done

Signatures are reviewed for form - done


Order to show cause is issued to public official - done

Official appears in court and defends conduct - pending

Judge rules on whether official has rebutted grounds set forth in petition

- if yes, petition dismissed

- if so, official removed and new election ordered

^ "if no" rather than "if so"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guys, no judge is going to want to set the legal precedent that would allow a small subset of the electorate the ability to get an elected official thrown out outside of regular election cycle just because those people didn't agree with the way the elected official handled a particular issue.

Americans have the power to recall for a reason.

it's a state right not a federal right and the signatures are the first step in a very long process

It's not such a very long process.

Signatures are gathered and presented to circuit court - done

Signatures are reviewed for form - done


Order to show cause is issued to public official - done

Official appears in court and defends conduct - pending

Judge rules on whether official has rebutted grounds set forth in petition

- if yes, petition dismissed

- if so, official removed and new election ordered

^ "if no" rather than "if so"

you forgot the trial by Jury with the commonwealth being represented by an elected democratic official - good luck with that