CEDAR RAPIDS - Have you ever regretted voting someone into office?
Now, a new bill in the Iowa House would allow voters to recall certain elected officials.
Eleven pages that could change how you react to the people you elect.
After dozens of complaints, three Linn county Republicans at the state house introduced, An Act Providing For the Recall of Elected Officials.
Rep. Kraig Paulsen, Rep. Nick Wagner and Rep. Renee Schulte all introduced the bill.
Rep. Wagner said it came after several residents called, upset at the Linn County Supervisors about pay - some of those supervisors have just started a new term.
"If you've got somebody acting not in good faith, sometimes four years they can do quite a bit of damage...if you will," said Rep. Wagner.
KCRG-TV9 showed the bill to some of the supervisors.
"Isn't that convenient. The people writing the law aren't applying it to themselves," said Linn County Supervisor Brent Oleson.
As written, the bill includes local elected officials. The bill doesn't include lawmakers at the state house or the governor.
Proponents say allowing recalls would make officials more responsive to the public.
"I think there's some ramifications about this, they ought to take a little time," said Linn county Auditor Joel Miller. "I know they're trying to address an issue, but they need to think this through. There's consequences that nobody has thought of yet."
Consequences like running out of candidates for a job. Or, as the supervisors worry, not getting candidates qualified to fill the positions.
Miller said each county-wide election costs $120,000. That number shrinks for smaller elections.
To replace just one supervisor, for example, Miller said the election alone would cost $24,000.
There are at least 29 other states that allow recall elections for local officials.
Eighteen states allow the recall of state officials.
The latest one that grabbed attention was the governor's race in California in 2003.
A recall paved the way for Arnold Schwarzenegger to be elected governor.
Email Justin Foss at Justin.Foss@kcrg.com
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