AUBURN, WA

— An Auburn resident has launched an effort to remove Auburn’s mayor from office, setting in motion a rarely used civic process.

Ronnie Morgan III, a longtime Auburn resident and previous mayoral candidate, filed a petition this week seeking the recall of Mayor Nancy Backus, who was elected to her fourth consecutive term last year. Morgan’s filing alleges a range of grievances against Backus, including ethical concerns and handling of law enforcement matters. The South King County Record has also reported on potential purgery which is not included as part of the petition. Whether these claims meet the legal standard to move forward will be determined by a judge.

What a Recall Petition Is
A recall petition is a formal request, initiated by voters, to remove an elected official before the end of that person’s term. In Washington state, any registered voter can begin this process. However, state law and the Washington Constitution set specific requirements governing how and when a recall can proceed.
Unlike elections driven by policy disagreements, Washington recall petitions must assert specific substantial wrongful conduct — such as misfeasance, malfeasance, or violation of oath of office — backed by factual claims. Petitions based solely on dissatisfaction with policy decisions are often rejected by courts. Judges are tasked with determining whether the charges, if true, would legally justify removal.
What Happens Next
Here’s how a recall effort generally progresses in Washington:

1. Court Review

Once filed, the recall petition is reviewed by a Superior Court judge. The judge determines whether the charges are legally and factually sufficient to move forward. If the judge finds the petition insufficient, the process stops there. If the judge approves it, the recall can proceed to signature gathering.
2. Signature Collection
If approved, the petition sponsor has up to 180 days to collect signatures from registered voters within the jurisdiction — in this case, Auburn. The number of required signatures is based on a percentage of votes cast in the last election for that office.
3. Signature Verification
Collected signatures are submitted to King County Elections for verification. If enough valid signatures are confirmed, the recall qualifies for the ballot.
4. Recall Election
A recall election must be held within a specific timeframe after certification, typically between 45 and 90 days. Voters would be asked a straightforward question: should the official be removed from office?

If a majority votes “yes,” the official is removed. If a majority votes “no,” the official remains in office for the remainder of their term.

What Residents Should Know
Local recalls in Washington are relatively uncommon because the legal threshold is higher than in many other states. Courts require clear allegations of substantial wrongdoing rather than political or policy disagreement.
At this stage, the Auburn recall effort is in the initial legal review phase. A court hearing will determine whether signature collection can begin. Until then, no signatures are being gathered.
Residents who want to follow the process should watch for updates after the court’s decision. If the recall advances, information about signature requirements, timelines, and potential election dates will become clearer.
As with any recall effort, the outcome ultimately depends first on legal sufficiency and then, if it reaches the ballot, on voter participation.

The hearing will be before Judge David Whedbee at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 24. in courtroom E-201 of the downtown Seattle King County Courthouse