JOHN DAY — The voters of John Day will decide early next year whether Mayor Heather Rookstool will be allowed to continue in her post.

Grant County Clerk Brenda Percy verified 128 of the 139 recall petition signatures submitted by the Committee to Recall Mayor Heather Rookstool on Thursday, Dec. 7.

Much like the citizens’ complaint alleging criminal acts by Rookstool that was submitted to the Oregon Department of Justice earlier this year, signatories of the recall petition include a Who’s Who of current and former city employees and elected officials.

Former John Day City Councilors Katrina Randleas, Shannon Adair and Gregg Haberly, along with former John Day City Manager Nick Green and former longtime Mayor Ron Lundbom, all signed the recall petition. Current John Day Public Works Director Casey Myers, former city employee Kathy Stoddard and Judy Schuette, a prominent voice from the audience at John Day City Council meetings, also inked their names onto the document.

The recall backers needed verified signatures from at least 15% of the number of John Day voters who cast a ballot in the last gubernatorial election. The minimum number required was 126, a threshold the petitioners cleared by two.

With the signature verification now completed, Rookstool has three options, according to Percy: stay silent, resign or submit a statement of justification defending herself against the recall allegations.

Percy said Rookstool intends to submit her letter of justification on Tuesday, Dec. 12, and that a recall election will be held on Jan 16. Ballots will go out to registered voters who live in John Day about two weeks before Election Day.

The recall campaign is being led by John Day wastewater treatment plant operator Oren Wyss. In prior comments to the Eagle, Wyss said the effort was launched in the wake of the criminal complaint against Rookstool, which has so far produced no action from the state Department of Justice.

“(With) the lack of response, I doubt if they’re going to do anything,” he said.

The recall petition accuses Rookstool of dishonesty and a lack of transparency and claims she is not acting in the best interests of John Day, city staff or residents. The petition also accuses Rookstool of disregarding her oath of office and the city charter, as well as putting the city’s services at risk.

Rookstool continues to maintain that she has done nothing wrong and that the recall effort is motivated by personal and political enmity.