HELENA (AP)
Backers of a proposed constitutional initiative that would make it easier for Montanans to recall judges believe they have enough signatures to get the measure on the November ballot. Rep. Ed Butcher, R-Winifred, a spokesman for the Constitutional Initiative 98 effort, said Thursday supporters have gathered between 70,000 and 80,000 signatures statewide. They need slightly more than 44,000 to qualify the constitutional measure for the ballot. “We’re giving the voters a choice,” Butcher said of the effort. The deadline for turning in all initiative signatures to county election officials is today. County officials must then validate the signatures and forward them to the secretary of state’s office, which certifies whether proposed initiatives qualify for the ballot this fall. Although signatures can be tossed out as invalid, Butcher said he believes the CI-98 campaign will end up with more than enough to qualify the measure. The initiative would allow Montanans to recall any elected judge through special, unscheduled elAnd citizens would have to wait 60 days after the judge takes office to begin gathering signatures to recall the judge. Currently, elected judges can only be removed from office by the Montana Supreme Court. Butcher said his group isn’t trying to harass judges, and included some safeguards in the initiative for that reason. Backers of other proposed ballot initiatives have turned in petition signatures this week. Initiative 154 would make it harder for government to condemn private property for public use, while Initiative 153 would ban elected officials and others in state government from becoming lobbyists for two years after they leave office. Signatures had not yet been turned in this morning for a constitutional initiative to cap state spending or a regular ballot initiative to raise the minimum wage.ections. Judges could only face one recall election per term,
