Third recall petition against Huron County Commissioner Steve Vaughan goes to review

A third recall petition against Huron County Commissioner Steve Vaughan is scheduled for review by the Huron County Election Commission on June 16, giving county officials another chance to decide whether the language is clear and factual enough to circulate.

The petition was filed June 2 by Colfax Township resident Lily Dropiewski. It is the latest attempt in a recall effort that has already seen two earlier versions rejected by county election officials.

If the commission approves the language, organizers would need to collect 816 valid signatures from District 4 voters to place a recall question on the November ballot.

What the petition targets

The recall effort stems from Vaughan’s July 8, 2025 vote in favor of Resolution 25-85, the county measure tied to solar zoning. Reporting on the dispute has described the resolution as allowing up to 15,000 acres of utility-scale solar energy facilities in 15 county-zoned townships.

Supporters of the recall have said Vaughan’s vote was the reason for targeting him. Vaughan supporters, meanwhile, have argued the effort singles him out even though six commissioners voted the same way on the resolution.

Two earlier rejections

This is the third recall petition filed against Vaughan. The first version was rejected in May after election officials said the wording was not clear enough.

A revised petition filed May 14 was also rejected on June 2. In that decision, officials cited problems with grammar, spelling and clarity, along with concerns that the petition did not meet the commission’s standards for recall language.

The new filing is meant to address those objections. At the June 16 hearing, the commission will decide whether the updated wording now states the grounds for recall clearly and factually.

Who is reviewing it

The Huron County Election Commission is made up of Probate Judge Julienne Ferris, County Clerk Lori Neal and County Treasurer Sheryl Jahn. The panel is responsible for reviewing recall petition language before signature gathering can begin.

District 4 includes Oliver, Chandler, Meade and Colfax townships.

What comes next

If the petition is approved, the recall campaign can begin collecting signatures. If it is rejected, Dropiewski can appeal in Huron County’s 52nd Circuit Court or submit another revised version.

The June 16 review comes amid broader local backlash over Huron County’s solar-energy zoning policy. County officials have been revisiting solar and battery-storage ordinance issues through planning and commissioner-level reviews.

The Vaughan petition is also being watched alongside a separate recall effort against District 6 Commissioner Joe Murphy, whose petition was rejected June 11 over unclear or conclusory wording. That ruling suggested the commission is applying the same clarity test to related recall efforts.

For now, the immediate question is whether the third Vaughan petition survives review and moves into the signature-collection phase.