Dec 21, 2020
Judge Donn E. Baker administers the swearing-in ceremony for Ward 4 Councilor Trae Ratliff, left; Mayor Sue Catron, middle; and Ward 3 Councilor Stephen Highers on Monday.
Oklahoma has seen several efforts to remove officials at the local level through recall petitions this year, but no provision allows Tahlequah citizens to remove their elected officials from office.
Political science instructors and professors at Northeastern State University agree that at whatever level, the issue is a complicated one.
âWe have what is called the charter, and very roughly speaking, itâs the local equivalent to a constitution,â said former Tahlequah Mayor Jason Nichols, who also teaches political science at NSU and is also a former mayor. âCities and town are able to either abide by a set of predetermined rules in state statutes, or wright their own charters. Occasionally those charters are written to have a recall provision within them.â