In light of Hanover Select Board member Vanessa O'Connor's recent claim that the recall initiative Article 5 on Hanover’s Special Town Meeting warrant is “clearly or at least a directed attack towards me,” it’s important to provide clarity. A recall provision is not about any one individual. It is a routine instrument of good governance, a safeguard intended to protect the public interest not a personal critique.
Recalls hold offices accountable, not people. The standard is the same no matter who occupies the seat. When an elected official views a recall mechanism as a personal attack, that reaction speaks more to their own insecurity than to the intent or purpose of the petition.
A recall process simply ensures that voters have a democratic remedy to address serious issues between election cycles. It strengthens transparency, trust, and accountability in local government. Far from being personal, it is a neutral and necessary check that serves every resident and every future official, equally.
Nick Spolsino