Michigan

steve2470

(37,468 posts) Sat Oct 10, 2020, 07:50 PM Oct 2020

question, please: Can Governor Whitmer fire that west Michigan sheriff ?

Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf, that is who I am referring to. The sheriff who seemed to back the conspirators.

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2020/10/10/michigan-sheriff-spotted-at-rally-with-men-charged-in-scheme-to-kidnap-kill-governor/

While being asked about the situation in an interview Leaf said, “It is just a charge, and they say a plot to kidnap and you got to remember that. Are they trying to kidnap? Because a lot of people are angry with the governor, and they want her arrested. So are they trying to arrest or was it a kidnap attempt?”

Thanks for entertaining my question and my first time in your forum !

Steve

14 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

question, please: Can Governor Whitmer fire that west Michigan sheriff ? (Original Post) steve2470 Oct 2020 OP

Don't know if she can, but the sheriff more or less confessed that if no_hypocrisy Oct 2020 #1

sheriff is d_r Oct 2020 #2

in Florida, apparently the governor can steve2470 Oct 2020 #4

I didn't know that d_r Oct 2020 #7

fwiw... steve2470 Oct 2020 #9

Nope. Sadly, the only people that can fire that jerk are the people in Barry County. catbyte Oct 2020 #3

sorry to hear that ! nt steve2470 Oct 2020 #6

In most places the sheriff is an elected official. The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2020 #5

Kinda.... LovingA2andMI Oct 2020 #8

I am in Florida, so this is none of my business but... steve2470 Oct 2020 #10

Let's Hope.... LovingA2andMI Oct 2020 #11

He should be fired rownesheck Oct 2020 #12

K & R LessAspin Jan 2021 #13

Dar Doubles Down LessAspin Feb 2021 #14

no_hypocrisy

(48,677 posts)

1. Don't know if she can, but the sheriff more or less confessed that if

Reply to steve2470 (Original post)

Sat Oct 10, 2020, 07:52 PM

Oct 2020

he found out she had been kidnapped or knew about the plot, he'd do nothing to stop it.

d_r

(6,907 posts)

2. sheriff is

Reply to steve2470 (Original post)

Sat Oct 10, 2020, 07:52 PM

Oct 2020

usually a county elected position. You don't have to have any experience if the people in the county will vote you in. You aren't an employee of the state but the county. So no, she could not fire him.

steve2470

(37,468 posts)

4. in Florida, apparently the governor can

Reply to d_r (Reply #2)

Sat Oct 10, 2020, 07:59 PM

Oct 2020

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/11/new-florida-governor-suspends-sheriff-over-school-massacre.html

The Republican governor flew to Fort Lauderdale three days after taking office to remove the Democratic sheriff, appointing a former police sergeant to serve as acting sheriff. Gregory Tony, 40, worked for Coral Springs police for 12 years before leaving in 2016 to start a company specializing in active-shooter training. He is the first African-American to serve as Broward’s sheriff.

snip

Under Florida law, the governor can suspend elected officials for criminal activity, misfeasance, incompetence or neglect of duty.

d_r

(6,907 posts)

7. I didn't know that

Reply to steve2470 (Reply #4)

Sat Oct 10, 2020, 08:00 PM

Oct 2020

I wonder if it is in Michigan also

steve2470

(37,468 posts)

9. fwiw...

Reply to d_r (Reply #7)

Sat Oct 10, 2020, 08:02 PM

Oct 2020

https://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/2018/02/governors_order_recall_are_the.html

JACKSON, MI -- If Jackson County Sheriff Steven Rand is believed to be the "multifaceted bigot" a recent lawsuit accuses him of being, and the public loses faith in him, there are only two possible ways to force him out of office.

Short of his resignation, it would require a removal order issued by the governor or a successful recall election.

article goes into more details further down

catbyte

(35,711 posts)

3. Nope. Sadly, the only people that can fire that jerk are the people in Barry County.

Reply to steve2470 (Original post)

Sat Oct 10, 2020, 07:58 PM

Oct 2020

And, judging by what I know of Barry County, he has a good chance of staying right where he is.

steve2470

(37,468 posts)

6. sorry to hear that ! nt

Reply to catbyte (Reply #3)

Sat Oct 10, 2020, 07:59 PM

Oct 2020

The Velveteen Ocelot

(120,600 posts)

5. In most places the sheriff is an elected official.

Reply to steve2470 (Original post)

Sat Oct 10, 2020, 07:59 PM

Oct 2020

LovingA2andMI

(7,006 posts)

8. Kinda....

Reply to steve2470 (Original post)

Sat Oct 10, 2020, 08:02 PM

Oct 2020

The Michigan Constitution does allow a sitting Governor to remove a sitting elected official for SPECIFIC reasons. The last time it was attempted was with former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who resigned before the verdict was issued on his removal from office by former Governor Jennifer Granholm.

steve2470

(37,468 posts)

10. I am in Florida, so this is none of my business but...

Reply to LovingA2andMI (Reply #8)

Sat Oct 10, 2020, 08:04 PM

Oct 2020

I hope the Sheriff really regrets his remarks.

LovingA2andMI

(7,006 posts)

11. Let's Hope....

Reply to steve2470 (Reply #10)

Sat Oct 10, 2020, 08:12 PM

Oct 2020

Barry County is pretty rural so unless someone of his same Republican Party runs against him, the chances he's leaving office anytime soon is slim. Plus, he might have just been re-elected (as Michigan's Primary season is in August - and County Sheriff's run every four years) -- so he might feel as if he is "safe" to say what he disgusting said.

Now, the Sheriff can be Recalled starting six months from the date of his next term (assuming it starts in November 2020), however someone in Barry County would have to start it by having the petition language approved by the State Board of Canvassers, gather 25% of the number of total votes in the last election on the petition signatures of registered voters within the County AND vote him out in a recall election.

As you can tell, Recalling a Sitting Elected Official is not an easy hill to climb, however, if there is a determined group of Citizens, who knows.