Michigan Election Commission Sets Recall Hearing For Baroda Clerk
The Berrien County Election Commission has scheduled a formal hearing next month to evaluate the clarity of recall petition language submitted against Baroda Township Clerk Christina Price.
Key Highlights
- The Berrien County Election Commission scheduled a clarity hearing for July 6, 2026, regarding the recall of Baroda Township Clerk Christina Price.
- Local resident Lisa Radde filed the petition, alleging Price misused township resources to back a village disincorporation drive.
- County officials reportedly warned Price twice to cease involvement due to blatant conflicts of interest with her official duties.
- The Baroda Village Council bypassed township voters by placing the disincorporation question directly on the November 3 ballot.
A petition submitted by Baroda resident Lisa Radde asserts that Price faces removal for utilizing township assets, including an official municipal email account, to advance a petition drive aimed at dissolving the Village of Baroda.
The filed documentation indicates that on February 11, 2025, Price contacted the Berrien County Clerkβs office to inquire about the dissolution process, explicitly stating her personal involvement. The county clerk subsequently counseled Price on two distinct occasions to halt her efforts.
This administrative warning stemmed from a direct conflict with her official obligations. As the active Baroda Township Clerk, Price holds the explicit statutory responsibility for verifying petition signatures and managing the subsequent election infrastructure if the measure qualifies for the ballot.
A citizens’ petition demanding a public vote on the municipal disincorporation was originally presented to the township in February. Following that submission, the Baroda Village Council chose to bypass the wider township electorate entirely.
The council successfully acted to place the disincorporation referendum directly before village voters on the upcoming November 3 ballot. This strategic maneuver effectively excluded non-village township residents from participating in the decision-making process.
The Berrien County Election Commission will officially convene at 10:30 a.m. on July 6, 2026. The public meeting will take place inside the Jury Assembly Room at the Berrien County Courthouse to determine if the recall language is sufficiently clear.
The exact text of the filed recall petition remains under review ahead of the scheduled July assembly.
Future Outlook
The upcoming clarity hearing on July 6, 2026, represents the initial legal hurdle in the recall process. If the Berrien County Election Commission approves the language, petitioners will gain authorization to circulate petitions and gather the required signatures to force a recall election. Meanwhile, the parallel track of the village disincorporation vote scheduled for November 3 ensures that Baroda’s municipal structure will remain a point of intense local political contention throughout the year.
FAQs
Why is Baroda Township Clerk Christina Price facing a recall petition?
Price faces the recall effort due to allegations that she used township resources, such as her official municipal email account, to support a petition drive aimed at dissolving the Village of Baroda, creating a conflict of interest.
What role does the Berrien County Election Commission play in this process?
The commission is scheduled to meet on July 6, 2026, to review the clarity and factual accuracy of the submitted recall petition language before any signatures can be gathered against the clerk.
How does the village disincorporation vote affect township residents?
The Baroda Village Council placed the disincorporation question directly on the November 3 ballot for village voters only, which prevents general township residents from voting on the measure.
