Maumee Recall Election Draws Attention as Candidates Push for Change
MAUMEE, Ohio — As late summer approaches, Maumee residents are gearing up for a recall election that could see the removal of several City Council members and the mayor. With the election set for September, potential candidates are stepping forward to voice their concerns and share the changes they would like to bring to the community.
Though the election is still a few months away, candidates are already working to make their names known. For many, the motivation behind their candidacies is clear: they believe the current leadership is out of touch with the needs and desires of Maumee residents.
David Ross, a Maumee resident and active participant in the recall effort, has announced his intention to run for one of the open City Council seats. “Their priorities are not what I believe they should be. I think they should be prioritizing things that help all the citizens, not just a few,” Ross explained. As part of the original recall initiative, Ross is now challenging one of the six City Council members in hopes of making a difference.
One of Ross’s main concerns is the perceived lack of transparency in city government. He argues that council meetings are often conducted without meaningful discussion, with decisions being made without input from the public or even the council members themselves. “Everything at the council meetings, there’s never any discussion with the council members at the meetings or questions, they just seem to say yes on everything,” Ross said.
Ross also expressed frustration with his feeling of disconnection from the community. “I don’t like when people are making decisions that affect me when I don’t have any say in it. I feel like we as the residents of Maumee are not getting enough say in what’s going on here,” he added.
Joining Ross in the race is Rosemarie Barciz, who recently announced her decision to run. Barciz echoed many of Ross’s concerns, particularly regarding the treatment of citizens who try to engage with the council. “One of the things I want to change is the abuse of emergency legislation,” Barciz explained. “Another is citizen involvement. It should be welcomed instead of looked at with disdain and disgust, which is what I’ve seen on the faces of some council people when citizens get up and have the courage to make a comment.”
Both Ross and Barciz expressed a shared desire for change, but they emphasized that their campaigns are not about attacking any individual, including City Administrator Patrick Burtch, whom some residents have called for the dismissal of. Instead, they are focused on what they see as broader issues with the City Council’s responsiveness to residents’ concerns and the stewardship of public funds.
“A lot of what we get back from the city is it’s all about firing Patrick Burtch. That’s not what it’s about,” Ross said. “It’s about we don’t feel like they are listening to the residents’ concerns and that they’re not being good stewards of our money.”
The upcoming recall election will include both the recall vote and the opportunity for voters to select a replacement for any recalled council members. If a council member is removed and there is time left in their term, the candidate who wins the recall election will serve out the remainder of the term before facing reelection. Those running against an incumbent who is not in the middle of their term will also need to participate in the primary election.
As the race heats up, residents of Maumee will likely be watching closely to see how these candidates’ messages resonate with the community. Whether or not these candidates can shift the current dynamics in Maumee’s local government remains to be seen, but their push for transparency, accountability, and more citizen involvement is undoubtedly striking a chord with many residents.
As September approaches, Maumee’s voters will have a critical choice: whether to maintain the status quo or embrace new leadership that promises to better represent the voices of the people.
