Following outcry from proposed Leland tax hike, Rep. Iler files bill that would allow voters to remove elected officials from office

It would require amending the Town of Leland's charter

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — Rep. Frank Iler has filed filed a bill in the State House of Representatives that would amend the Town of Leland’s charter to provide a section to recall elected officials.

The bill, which was filed on Tuesday, would allow residents to recall the mayor or any member of town council.

Iler (R-Brunswick) says he filed the bill after receiving close to 200 emails from Leland residents complaining about the Town of Leland’s proposed tax hike, citing excessive spending, high taxes, mismanagement and a proposed $20-million town hall expansion. The Town of Leland first proposed a 70-percent increase, but dropped that number to 17-percent following pushback from residents.

Currently, Leland officials are elected to four year staggered terms, which means every two years seats on the council are up for grabs.

“But if they want a recall option, there are 20 local governments that have them in North Carolina,” Rep. Iler said. “I’m not saying they will have a recall, but it will make it available where they can vote to have a recall.”

Under the proposed bill, the recall petition committee, made up of at least five registered voters, must file an affidavit with the Brunswick County Elections director naming the elected official who they are trying to remove and a statement of the grounds for removal.

The recall petition committee then has 30 days to return the petition with the signatures of at least 25-percent of the registered voters in the Town of Leland. The Board of Elections will then investigate the petition and certify the results.

If the petition is valid, the elected official will be notified that their removal is being sought. If they do not resign within five days, Town Council shall order a date for a recall election, between 60 and 90 days, unless there is a general or special election scheduled within this timeframe.

The bill passed its first reading on Wednesday morning and was referred to the Committee on Local Government.

The bill has to pass the North Carolina House and Senate before it becomes law, but it wouldn’t go into the Town of Leland’s charter until the next municipal election in 2025, where residents will then vote on it.