Recall petition application approved

A White Pigeon resident attempting to recall village president Tyler Royce can proceed with circulating a petition.

The three-member St. Joseph County Election Commission ruled Thursday that wording in the application for a petition being sought by Jerry Kash is clear enough to begin the process.

Kash has 60 days to collect at least 108 signatures of registered voters from the village.

The clarity/factuality public hearing took less than 15 minutes and was overseen by clerk Lindsay Oswald, Probate Court Judge David Tomlinson and Treasurer Kathy Humphreys.

Kash alleges Royce has compromised ethics, and used municipal equipment and employees to perform personal work outside the realm of village-related duties.

Royce has 10 days to appeal the election commission’s ruling. He said afterward he wasn’t sure whether he would seek that option.