"They do as they damn well please, to heck with what the people have to say," complains Ken Fry, a long-time city activist and former mayor of the Potterville City Council. His frustration has never been a gray issue, but this year, it's appearing in black and white--on the November election ballot.

He collected signatures for a petition to force Lisa Lemanski, Larisa Ballard, and Dennis Carroll into a recall. They were the only current council members who weren't on the ballot. He gained support after a scandal last November. The city hall was closed for days while state police investigated allegations the city manager had cooked the books and sexual harassed two female employees. They filed a lawsuit which is still pended. The manager left briefly but is now back with the city.

"It didn't go their way, so they are trying to force the issue," says Dennis Carroll, who wasn't really on council during the scandal that closed city hall.

Fry alleges poor bookkeeping primarily in his recall request and he says Carroll admits it. Carroll says what's he's admitted is that Potterville doesn't always do finances in a way auditors consider best practices. That's because there staff is so small they have very few eyes on the books.

All three council members emphasize their city is making strides...and they truly love to serve. The recall, they call a revenge tactic, against the very people who put Potterville first.