A group of Tucson residents has begun an effort to recall Mayor Regina Romero.
After filing for the petition with the City Clerkโs Office on Monday, the individuals have 120 days to gather nearly 25,000 valid signatures. If the petition gets enough valid signatures by the deadline, the mayor would either have five days to resign or be automatically placed on the ballot for the recall election.
Initiated by residents Joseph Morgan, Dawn Polotto and Alexander McKenna, the petition is a result of what they are calling โRomeroโs failure to fulfill her duties as the Mayor of Tucson.โ Morgan, the lead organizer, is also the administrator of a social media group called RecallRegina2020.
The group is also responsible for several protests around Tucson over the past several months, including a โBlue Lives Matterโ protest in support of law enforcement as well as a โMask Lessโ protest in opposition of the cityโs face mask mandate, which was held outside of Romeroโs house.
On its website, the group identifies several complaints toward the mayor, which include her decision to remove Tucson police officers from election polls, her approval of a โBlack Lives Matterโ banner at city hall and her One Million Trees Initiative as well as her backing of a citywide mask mandate.
โTucsonans can evaluate whether they believe masking up protects our communityโs public health,โ Romero said in a statement Tuesday. โI happen to disagree with this group, who gathered outside my personal residence earlier this year, that wearing masks is โtyrannical.โโ
In a video on the groupโs website, Morgan accused Romero of โlawless behaviorโ and a โMarxist agendaโ and criticized her for promoting โthings like climate change rather than taking care of our streets.โ
On the groupโs Facebook page, many members have expressed their support for President Trump as well as their opposition against the Black Lives Matter movement. The group has also openly opposed the sanctuary city initiative, saying โmany (but not all) illegals are gang members, murderers, child traffickers, drug dealers, identity theft, and gun runners.โ
The group has until Feb. 27, 2021, to collect 24,710 valid signatures for the recall petition.
The city clerk will then have 10 days to examine the petitions and the Pima County Recorderโs office will have 60 days to certify the number of valid signatures.
If the groupโs effort is sufficient, the mayor will have the opportunity to resign or face a recall vote. After that, the mayor and city council will have no more than 30 days to call an election.
Photos: City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Tucson Mayor Regina Romero hugs outgoing mayor Jonathan Rothschild during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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New Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, left, speaks with new Ward 1 Council member Lane Santa Cruz during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Outgoing Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild hugs new Mayor Regina Romero during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Ward 4 Council member Nikki Lee is sworn-in during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Ward 2 Council member Paul Cunningham speaks during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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A Tucson Police officer leads the Honor Guard posting the colors during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Mariachi Millagro performms at the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Mariachi Milagro during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Departing Ward 4 Council member and Vice Mayor Shirley Scott makes a hearfelt speech during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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New Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, left, seated on the dais during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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New council member Nikki Lee of Ward 4 greats people after the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Ward 2 Council member Paul Cunningham is sworn-in during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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With New Tucson Mayor Regina Romero is sworn-in at the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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With her family by her side, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero is sworn-in during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Incoming Tucson City Council member Lane Santa Cruz holds a cihuatl and her son, while being sworn-in at the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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New Tucson Mayor Regina Romero embraces her family during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Audience members get videos and stills during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Outgoing Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild talks to new Mayor Regina Romero on the dais during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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The Reveille Men's Chorus sings at the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Protesters disrupting the ceremony are gently led away by Tucson Police officers during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
