Woodlands Residents Launch Recall Effort to Remove City Commissioner

The kickoff drive began in area clubhouses on Saturday where Woodlands residents were able to exercise their right to to petition to recall newly reinstated commissioner Patricia “Patte” Atkins-Grad from office.

Residents, as well as those living elsewhere in District Two in Tamarac were able to visit Woodlands Section 8 and two additional locations in the Mainlands to sign petitions during a two hour window on Saturday where the event was covered by the Sun Sentinel.  Residents not only signed the petition, but picked up additional forms to take back to their neighbors.  Overall, over 170 petitions were signed in the first day.

Residents signing recall petitions

After a two year absence, Atkins-Grad was acquitted on public corruption charges and returned to her commission seat last week.

After being reinstated by the governor, she received a cold reception  from the commission and was even asked to step down by Vice Mayor Harry Dressler as well as several residents at last week’s city commissioner meeting where Atkins-Grad steadfastly refused.

Heading up the petition drive is Tamarac resident and attorney Alvin Entin who said, “Patte Atkins Grad was not vindicated. She never denied taking money and a car in return for her vote. Instead, her defense was she was too stupid to understand she was being bribed.  In any event, she did it, and she does not belong on a commission making decisions for us on matters like taxation, land use, or the future of the city.”

Entin adds, “Even if you believe her defense, she admits a lack of capacity to make intelligent decisions which is also a basis to seek her removal.”

There are only 30 days in which the petition must have 1,000 valid signatures from registered voters from District Two and then are presented to the Tamarac City Clerk.