Chandler targeted in recall

A recall effort targeting Washington County Commission Chairman Kirk Chandler has started over the recent firing of the planning department administrator and building inspector.
 The recall is spearheaded by Sam Lancaster, a Weiser contractor who is collecting signatures online at change.org, and promoting the recall on Facebook.
 The website said the recall effort was prompted by Chandler’s decision late last month to fire county planning department official Chad Brock without any input from the community.
 Lancaster said the online recall petition has been up for about a week and has collected more than 10 percent of the signatures that would be needed to force a recall.
 A local committee has been organized to pursue the recall and the online petition was started to gauge the interest in seeking to recall Chandler, he said.
 Regardless of the number of people who sign, the online collection of signatures does not trigger an official recall election. The state has specific guidelines that must be followed.
 The recall backers must obtain a petition from the county clerk and collect 20 signatures of registered voters in the county. The petition also must include a statement of up to 200 words calling for a special recall election and giving the reason for the recall.
 After the signatures are certified as qualified electors, the recall proponents have 75 days to circulate the petition and collect