Hatcher recall signatures are being checked
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, April 28th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
KENNEWICK – The Benton County Auditor’s Office digs into the 16,552 signatures turned in last week calling for the recall of Sheriff Jerry Hatcher. Of those signatures, 13,937 need to be valid. Those who signed must be registered to vote and residents who moved within the county but failed to notify the auditor’s office of their address changes.
The office expects the verification process to take five to 10 days. If a special election is called it will either be held in June or be part of the primary in August.
Hatcher has strongly denied allegations of wrongdoing and appealed the recall effort all the way to the Washington State Supreme Court. He lost that appeal in early November in a unanimous ruling that the recall effort could proceed.
Hatcher was elected sheriff in May 2017.
