2 Richland board members are up for election, but that’s no reason to slow the recall | Opinion

Two of the three Richland School Board members targeted in the recall effort are up for re-election this year, and that’s causing a lot of confusion in the community.

Some people are questioning if the recall is worth the trouble and expense when citizens will have the chance to vote board members Semi Bird and Kari Williams out of office — should they choose to run again.

But let’s take things one step at a time.

Those in charge of the recall effort are still gathering signatures, and it remains to be seen if they will collect enough to get the measure on the ballot.

That process must continue.

It’s the best way to gauge how Richland citizens feel about the reckless way Bird, Williams and Audra Byrd voted to defy the state school mask mandate in February 2022.

Since recall organizers are hoping voters can weigh in on the issue in the August primary election, there is a weird possibility that Bird and Williams could be on the ballot both for re-election and for the recall.

Benton County Auditor Brenda Chilton said she has received numerous calls from citizens wondering how this situation could play out.

It turns out there are several things to consider.

For instance, when only two candidates are running for the same seat, they skip the primary election and go straight to the general election.

However, let’s say the recall makes it to the ballot. And let’s say Bird and Williams run for office and they each attract two or more opponents. Then they would end up on the primary ballot both for the recall and for their re-election bids.

If voters approve the recall of Bird and Williams, their terms end right away. That would go for Byrd as well, if she is recalled.

If Bird and Williams are re-elected — regardless of the outcome of the recall — they would have another term in office, and they would be sworn in when that term starts.

Wait. There’s more.

If Bird, Williams and Byrd are recalled and removed from office, then that would leave only board members Rick Jansons and Jill Oldson and that’s not enough to make a majority.

In that case, it would be up to board members of Educational Service District 123 to appoint people to fill the vacancies until the end of those three school board members’ terms.

Yes, it’s a lot to consider.

But that doesn’t mean the recall effort isn’t worthwhile.

Richland School Board meetings were hot and contentious for months during the pandemic. Citizens were split over the state mask mandate. Even though local school officials had no authority to defy it, Bird, Williams and Byrd tried anyway.

Their vote, which school district employees weren’t ready for, resulted in schools being closed for two days while administrators managed the fallout from the surprise decision.

Brad Rew, one of the organizers of the recall effort, said if Richland School Superintendent Shelley Redinger had not canceled classes, kids could have been waiting at bus stops for school buses that never came. Or they could have ended up in a classroom without a teacher.

“You can’t force employees to go against a mandate, to break the law,” Rew said.

In the end, school resumed with kids wearing masks until Gov. Jay Inslee lifted the requirement about a month later.

For Bird, Williams and Byrd to think they could vote to make masks optional — effective immediately — and that school could open as usual the very next morning was absurd and irresponsible.

Rew said the vote also cost families who had to take off work or find child care for days off of school that were not planned. It also affected numerous kids who rely on school for meals.

Now that the state Supreme Court has ruled that the recall effort can move forward, that’s what must happen — regardless of the fact two board members are up for re-election.

At this point, gather the signatures and give citizens the chance to remove these three board members from office as soon as possible.