Recall efforts are picking up steam against two school board members who voted to change the elementary school attendance lines last month.

Jeffrey Norieka is spearheading the effort against board Chairman Mike Sumner and board member Bill Covington and has turned in more than 100 signatures for a recall on each to the Coweta County Probate Judge's office.

“Despite public concerns, five Board of Education members voted last month to redistrict our children. Today hundreds of concerned Coweta citizens made their wishes known when applications for recall for Mr. Michael Sumner and Mr. Bill Covington are submitted to the county probate judge to begin the recall proceedings,” said Norieka in a written statement to the press.

Norieka said Sumner and Covington are being targeted based on their leading role in the redistricting, which he says violated the 1995 Supreme Court decision Adarand v. Pena.

“The school board still has it within their power to reverse their decision and develop and adopt, with public input, a standard policy for redistricting,” said Norieka's statment.

“The seats occupied by Mr. Harry Mullins and Mr. Rick Melville are up for reelection in July and the citizens will replace them at that time. Recall proceedings for Ms. Smith Pass will be addressed at a later date,” he said.

Norieka has been pleased with the support he has received from parents and said the next step in the process is for the probate judge to certify the signatures.

After the signatures are certified, Norieka's group then would have to garner signatures of 30 percent of the voters in each member's district to stage a recall election.

“The recall process is a shining example of voter power and concern for the children of Coweta County,” said Norieka's statement.

“Those pursuing the recall effort express their appreciation for the overwhelming support by the communities and invite all concerned citizens to join in continuing this process.”

Norieka said he expects an election for recall to be called before November if he gets enough signatures on the petition.

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