Citizens file notice to recall Councilwoman Pam Murray

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Citizens file notice to recall Councilwoman Murray | Nashville City Paper: Nashville's Online Source for Daily News

Friday, August 14, 2009 at 4:19pm

By Nate Rau

A notice to recall controversial Councilwoman Pam Murray was filed with the Metro Clerk’s office on Friday, The City Paper has learned.

The East Nashville Councilwoman has been under scrutiny since earlier this year when she supported a proposed zoning bill that had divided her District 5 neighborhood.

Murray supported a zoning change that would have brought apartments to a Cleveland Street property, which previously served as a junkyard. Residents said Murray was ignoring their opposition by going forward with the zoning bill, which after considerable resistance, was withdrawn by the property owner once it was clear the bill would likely not pass through Council.

“The reason why the removal of Pam Murray is being sought is because of the dereliction of her duties and responsibilities to represent the residents of Councilmanic District 5,†the recall notice reads.

Murray also was the object of a story by NewsChannel5, which showed she lived a majority of the time in Detroit, where she works as a social worker for a methadone clinic.

As was first reported by The City Paper, Murray had an ethics complaint filed against her with the state ethics commission. The complaint, filed by a constituent, is still pending.

The City Paper was also the first to report that District 8 Councilwoman Karen Bennett called Metro Police following a community meeting, claiming a group with Murray threatened her.

In order to force a recall vote, 15 percent of the District 5 voters in the previous countywide election must sign the petition.

[Guest PapaB]

Wish we could do this with Lamar and a few others.

[Guest bkelm18]

It's always nice to see politicians being reminded who they work for.

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Committee close to forcing Murray recall election | Nashville City Paper: Nashville's Online Source for Daily News

Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 6:39pm

By Nate Rau

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A campaign committee is close to having enough signatures to force a recall election of District 5 Metro Councilwoman Pam Murray, according to a media release sent on Tuesday.

As first reported by The City Paper, the group filed a notice to recall the second-term Councilwoman on Aug. 14. A recall election requires 15 percent of the registered voters in the district, which would be about 900 voters.

On Saturday about 30 District 5 residents canvassed the area to garner the necessary signatures. Murray reportedly hosted a Stop the Recall meeting on Monday evening, although this was unconfirmed and various attempts to reach her were unsuccessful.

“The Metro Council sets our property taxes, votes on the budget, which includes our school board’s budget, and decides our zoning laws,†read a press release from the campaign committee We the People of District 5.

“We are currently suffering economic turmoil. The last thing we need during these times is for our representative on Council spending most of their life working in Detroit, Michigan.â€

Murray was not immediately available for comment.

The press release references media reports that Murray lives a majority of the time in Detroit, where she works as a social worker at a methadone clinic.

Murray led the charge to rezone a Cleveland Street property, which faced stringent opposition from District 5 residents. The zoning bill was ultimately withdrawn when it was apparent the bill would not pass.

An ethics complaint was also filed against Murray with the state ethics commission, alleging she lied on her ethics disclosure forms. The complaint is still pending.

The campaign committee has until Sept. 14 to submit the necessary signatures to the Metro Clerk. If the signatures are verified by the Election Commission, a recall election would be held within 60 days.