LANSING, MI (WTVB) – The Michigan Board of State Canvassers will meet Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. in the State Capitol to consider a recall petition that has been filed against Branch County Prosecutor Ralph Kimble.
Alexia and Stephen Rish of Coldwater filed the petition on January 18th. The board will determine if the petition states factually and clearly each reason for Kimble’s recall.
The petition states, “In consideration of the recent consensus of ALL of the local judges of Branch County by reason of their intimate professional relationship and knowledge of Chief County Prosecutor Ralph Kimble, in their combined request for the necessity of an official Investigation of Ralph Kimble by the Michigan Attorney General and the Michigan State Police concerning alleged improprieties engaged in by the Chief County Prosecutor in the discharge of his official duties; and in consideration that Ralph Kimble has been named as a Defendant in an ongoing lawsuit alleging sexual Harassment in the Branch County Courthouse by a former employee of the Branch County Prosecutor’s office: We, the undersigned, request a RECALL of Ralph Kimble as Branch County Prosecutor.”
If approved, 2,858 valid signatures will have to be collected from Branch County registered voters for the recall to get on the ballot. That figure represents 25 percent of the number of Branch County ballots cast in the 2014 gubernatorial election. According to state law, a county prosecutor can only be removed from office by the governor or by a recall election.
Kimbell has denied accusations made in a sexual harassment lawsuit that was filed against him and Branch County in October 2017 by former county employee Evon Staley. WWMT-TV reported on Friday that Staley has taken out a protection order against Kimble. Kimball claims the suit was filed in retaliation after Staley was fired over a marijuana bust conducted by the Southwest Michigan Enforcement Team on her property.
Kimble has also been the subject of investigations by the Michigan State Police and the State Attorney General’s office over his conduct in recent months.
