[StBernard] Recall effort filed today against St. Bernard Parish President Craig Taffaro

[Westley Annis]

Recall effort filed today against St. Bernard Parish President Craig Taffaro
by The Times-Picayune 
Tuesday February 17, 2009, 12:33 PM
A group has filed a notice with the Secretary of State that it will seek to
recall St. Bernard Parish President Craig Taffaro.

The notice was hand-delivered to the Secretary of State's office this
morning. The notice names Paul Molinary and Bradley Cantrell, St. Bernard
Parish residents, as chairman and vice chairman of the recall effort.

Secretary of State spokesman Jacques Berry said the group now has 180 days
to collect the signatures of one-third of the parish's registered, active
voters. In St. Bernard's case, Berry said, that would be 8,014 signatures.

Any signatures would have to be verified by the St. Bernard Parish registrar
of voters. Then, the petition would be put to a popular vote.

Molinary, of Chalmette, said he and some other residents are angry about
what he says is the Taffaro administration's haste to tear down homes that
were damaged during Hurricane Katrina. Molinary said in many cases the homes
are being torn down before owners have a chance to repair them.

Molinary also said he has had several run-ins with the parish over building
and occupational permits.

Taffaro has called a news conference at 3:30 today in Chalmette to address
the recall effort.