Rep. Chenette submits bill to establish accountability for elected officials

​AUGUSTA – Rep. Justin Chenette has submitted an after-deadline bill to establish a recall process for elected officials.
 
“I was surprised to learn that the state of Maine has no process to recall an elected official if that person has misused the office or neglected their duties,” said Chenette, D-Saco.
 
If allowed in by Legislative Council, the bill would include language to clarify the grounds for a recall petition, including a process for recalling the position of the governor.
 
“Establishing a recall process for any elected official, the governor included, is the best way to get the public to hold government more accountable without disrupting the important work taking place,” Chenette said.

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​During even-numbered years, the Legislature generally limits bill submissions to those that address emergencies and other pressing situations. The Legislative Council, which is made up of each party’s leaders in the Maine House and Senate, decides which bills fit the criteria. A bill must win a majority vote from the 10-member Legislative Council to advance.
 
Chenette, a member of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, is serving his second term in the Maine Legislature and represents part of Saco.