Recall petition wording approved by judge

The St. Joseph County Election Commission ruled Wednesday that wording in petitions to recall a trio of Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education members showed sufficient clarity in stating the reasons for the attempted recall of Diana DeGraaf, Pete Bennett and Erin Nowak.
At the conclusion of the 20-minute session at the county courthouse, commission chair and probate judge David Tomlinson indicated he approves of the wording as it stands on all petitions. Tomlinson’s conclusion was supported by county clerk Lindsay Oswald and county treasurer Judie Ratering.
The commission’s ruling means the recall process, sought by the group TR Cares, can continue. DeGraaf, Bennett and Nowak, however, have a 10-day window during which they can appeal the vote.
DeGraaf, 59, and Nowak, 35, were elected to the board a year ago. They did not attend Wednesday’s 20-minute hearing. Bennett, 62, was present but did not address the commission.
A 10-year board of education member, Bennett said he will appeal Wednesday’s vote.