By Tom Gilchrist
Staff Writer
CARO — The Tuscola County Election Commission on Thursday rejected a proposed petition intended to force a recall election for Dayton Township Trustee James Satchel, though recall sponsor Dr. Richard Horsch vowed to submit another petition after the Commission made its ruling.
The Election Commission — Probate Judge Nancy L. Thane, county Treasurer Pat Donovan-Gray and county Clerk Jodi Fetting — voted unanimously to reject Horsch’s petition in county Probate Court.
Twenty-two township residents jammed the courtroom to hear the Commission, which is charged with determining whether each reason for the recall stated in the petition is factual and of sufficient clarity “to enable the officer whose recall is sought and the electors to identify the course of conduct that is the basis for the recall.”
In his petition, Horsch alleged Satchel “has repeatedly abused his board position by assuming zoning enforcement authority which a trustee does not have and by attempting to bully and intimidate residents, including a helpless 97 year old World War II veteran and his family, and a single woman.”
After Horsch and Satchel delivered verbal arguments regarding the petition wording, Fetting addressed Horsch’s claim that Satchel abused his trustee’s position.
“My question to that was I didn’t feel it was clear … prior to today’s hearing, as to how (Satchel) abused that board position,” Fetting said.
The county clerk added that “I have to look at that (language) from a signer’s viewpoint and I didn’t see the clarity in that prior to this hearing today.”
Several hours after the ruling, Satchel said “I’m just thankful to the lord Jesus Christ that the decision was rendered — I think — fairly.”
In the first sentence of the language proposed for the recall petition, Horsch alleged that “The Dayton Twp. Board unanimously voted to censure trustee James Satchel.”
Before leaving Probate Court on Thursday, Horsch told the Advertiser he would file another recall petition containing only that sentence.
“They approved the first line. That’s all that’s going to be in the next one,” Horsch said.
Horsch told the Election Commission that one characteristic of a bully is that “You pick on people who can’t defend themselves — a 99-year-old veteran and a disabled single woman.”
Horsch identified the veteran as Jack Peet and the woman as Janett Myers.
Satchel, however, told the Election Commission that “Mr. Jack Peet and I have always had a good and great relationship.” He said he has known Jack Peet since 1995, and that in 2008, “after 13 years, I finally got Jack Peet to join the Shay Lake Non-Denominational Christian Church where he was baptized by Rev. Hollingshed and … as a deacon I witnessed the baptism.”
Satchel insisted he — rather than Myers — is a victim, adding “I’m 75 years old and I just had a kick with cancer — colon cancer — and I’m not in shape to be intimidating people.”