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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Recall Petition Apparently Fails

From Staff And Wire Reports

Tuesday was the deadline for Twin Falls podiatrist Peter Rickards to file petitions seeking to recall Gov. Phil Batt. The state election office said it didn’t hear from Rickards, so presumably the recall effort has failed.

In October, Rickards, who has announced for the GOP nomination in Idaho’s 2nd Congressional District against Republican Rep. Michael Crapo, filed the paperwork to start a recall election against Batt.

Rickards opposes the state’s agreement with the federal government that will allow 1,133 shipments of radioactive nuclear waste into the state over the next 40 years.

But Rickards had to get 20 percent of the state’s registered voters to sign, about 125,000. In an interview last week, Rickards acknowledged he likely wasn’t going to make it.

In an interview with a Boise television station Tuesday afternoon, Rickards said he plans to start a new recall petition drive Feb. 14, if he gets enough financial support.