Effort to recall 3 Richland School Board members collects enough signatures for ballot

Eric Rosane
·2 min read
31

Voters will decide on Aug. 1 whether or not three Richland School Board officials should be removed from office.

The Benton County Elections Department said Friday they had validated enough signatures for each of the recall actions to put Semi Bird, Kari Williams and Audra Byrd’s names on the ballot.

Voters will vote on each of them individually.

If a 50% majority, plus one, votes in favor of recalling them, they would be required to leave office by the time the election is certified.

“Work will continue on Monday to finalize the remaining signature verification,” read a Friday afternoon news release. “The Benton County Auditor anticipates completion of all three petitions and issuance of certificates of sufficiency, setting the official date of the elections by the end of the day Tuesday, May 23.”

The Richland School Board Recall campaign started collecting signatures on Feb. 15 and delivered 18,788 signatures to the election center on May 2.

Each board member faces three recall charges alleging they:

  • Violated Washington’s Open Public Meetings Act by taking final action on a matter not included on a published meeting agenda.

  • Violated state law on masking at the time, exceeding their powers and responsibilities as school board members.

  • Violated district policies and procedures by failing to assure compliance with laws and policies.

Kari Williams has filed for re-election and will be on the same primary ballot facing two other challengers. A recall vote would not affect her ability to serve again.

Semi Bird did not seek re-election this year because he plans to run for governor in 2024.

Audra Bird’s seat is not up for re-election and if recalled she would be out of office.

Opponents of the recall say the action is frivolous and expensive, and that the charges levied against the school board members don’t hold merit.

But supporters say the three board members acted recklessly when they voted abruptly in February 2022 to go “mask optional” in schools and defy Washington state’s indoor mask mandate during the COVID pandemic.

District administrators closed school for two days, and the board eventually walked back the vote.