After just seven months in office Yamhill County Commissioner Lindsay Berschauer has galvanized local residents to mount a recall campaign insisting Yamhill County deserves better. The group of citizens known as Save Yamhill County filed their petition earlier today with retired Cargill executive Philip Forve as the chief petitioner.

Citing several instances of Berschauer costing Yamhill County taxpayers money including last week’s incident when Berschauer insisted the City of Newberg put their Urban Renewal District plan to a vote. Berschauer and fellow commissioner Mary Starrett claimed the city had not made sufficient efforts to inform voters. Despite the plan having been in the works for six years with ongoing public comment and opportunities for input from Newberg residents. County approval of the plan is required due to the project including a section of unincorporated land. However, the Board of Commissioners does not have legal authority to require the city to put the issue on the ballot. If the county somehow manages to force the issue Yamhill County taxpayers could be on the hook for another $70k to pay for the special election in Newberg on an issue that has overwhelming support from the residents of Newberg.

Berschauer had no interest in putting her Second Amendment Sanctuary Ordinance to a vote. Berschauer lifted much of the language for her SASO directly from Columbia County’s ordinance which was put to ballot. Last week Columbia County Judge Ted Grove refused refused the petition for judicial review on the SASO there without making any determination on the legality of the ordinance because he did not feel the petitioners or “intervenors” constituted the required controversy for judicial review. It is unclear if the case will be appealed or if new intervenors will come forward.

Berschauer rammed through the SASO in Yamhill County despite Yamhill County sheriff Tim Svenson, an avowed advocate of Second Amendment rights, advising there were “so many unknowns” that he couldn’t adequately answer questions about it. Svenson also had concerns the ordinance would hamper his ability to do his job. County Counsel Christian Boenisch believes the SASO may violate state law, which County Commissioners are duly bound to uphold.

The group will have 90 days to collect the needed signatures to put Berschauer back on the ballot.