PETERSBURG, Va. -- The organizer of a group that wants to oust three members of the Petersburg City Council called their Election Day effort to collect voter signatures a success.
"Oh, I think we did well," John Hennessee, one of the organizers of the Clean Sweep Petersburg grass-roots organization, said. "We were collecting signatures on recall petitions."
Hennessee spent much of Tuesday outside the Ward 3 polling place. He said the group's three petitions aim to remove Mayor Howard Myers, Vice Mayor Sam Parham and City Treasurer Kevin Brown from office.
"There's so many things going on that voters are aware that change is needed and were willing to sign," said Barb Rudolph, a co-founder of the group.
Rudolph believes targeting voters existing the polls would better the chance of getting registered voters.
"The goal would be to make sure we have more than enough so we have the valid signatures needed to meet the 10-percent threshold," she said.
The volunteers who worked the polls for Clean Sweep reported success.
Now the group must submit those names to a Petersburg Circuit Court Judge who will hear the recall petition case against the two council members and treasurer.
Rudolph said that while the three may not have been in office when the city's finances began to turn, they were in office as they worsened in the last year.
In a statement to CBS 6 Vice Mayor Sam Parham said:
"This special interest group with no credible accusations of any wrong doing is wasting the time of Wayne Covil and the dedicated viewers of 6 News".
Mayor Howard Myers released this statement:
"Being very much aware of the recall petition I am unmoved by the misrepresentation of a few to malign and destroy my character personally, as well as dismantling the work we as a council have improved upon. When it's all said and done my work will speak for itself."
City Treasurer Kevin Brown released this statement:
"I am and have been performing my duties as the City Treasurer of Petersburg. I am very thankful to have served the citizens of Petersburg. I look forward to assisting the city by my increased collection efforts and results."
