The latest recall language against Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education Trustee Trenton Bowens has been approved by the Berrien County Election Commission. The commission this week determined the language submitted by Elnora Gavin is clear and factual, thus enabling the recall effort to proceed. However, there’s not much time to collect signatures. The Berrien County Clerk’s Office tells us the deadline for the petitioners to collect 2,151 signatures is August 4. Plus, Bowens has ten days to file an appeal with the circuit court, and signatures cannot be collected until a judge makes a decision on the appeal. Bowens has faced five recall attempts this year, with most seeking his removal from the school board for voting against a boiler replacement at Benton Harbor High School in March. The majority of the board voted against the boiler replacement, but Bowens is the only one targeted for recall. If the petitioners succeed in collecting the necessary signatures for a recall election, it would be on the November ballot.
