by Christy Solo – Editor
Ballots for the Shady Cove mayoral recall election have been delivered to citizens via U.S. Mail. Comments and feelings are heating up on both sides of the recall; so much so that on June 22, an individual or individuals reportedly took to vandalism as a way to express their support for their side of the issue.
Ballots are due July 7, 2026, and results will be certified Aug. 3, 2026.
See Jackson County Recall Election Information
Below are statements from both sides in a more formal fashion.
Statement from Shady Cove Matters Political Action Committee from the SEL 350 form (the “Yes” vote – recall the mayor)
“Lena Richardson’s actions demonstrate a lack of integrity and accountability to Residents of Shady Cove.
Mayor Richardson failed to support Resident’s requests for elections during the May 2026 Primary, despite language in the City Charter allowing appointed Councilors to serve only until the “next available election”.
We allege Mayor Richardson deliberately delayed Council’s appointment to vacant positions for almost three months. Numerous qualified applicants were bypassed, and Richardson operated without integrity by voting to re-appoint Councilor Kathy Nuckles, who previously resigned from her elected position.
We allege that due to Richardson’s maneuvering, sixty percent of Council (including Richardson) will be unelected appointees for over a full year, with the power to hire Administrators, set budgets, allocate over $2M in City funds, and approve upcoming labor and public safety contracts that are up for renewal in 2026. Since Mayor Richadson’s appointment on July 10th, 2025, we allege that personal biases have taken priority over City business. We estimate tens of thousands of dollars hve been needlessly spent on Interim Administrator salaries and legal fees. Richardson’s recent motion to dismiss the Administrator without cause will likely result in severance payments and negated approximately $50,000 in recruitment fees spent in 2024.”
Statement from Mayor Lena Richardson (the “No“ vote – do not recall the mayor)
“I do not plan to run for re-election, and this recall election will be certified on August 3rd. It is incredible that the recall organizers chose to force the City to pay thousands of dollars for a special election just as campaigning for the general election starts. I cannot rationalize this waste of taxpayers’ money.
In July 2025 when I was appointed Mayor, Shady Cove’s years of operational dysfunction had resulted in no state-mandated yearly audits or financial statements since 2020, no yearly performance appraisals, inaccurate grant management/reporting, no corrective action plan, among other failings.
Since July 2025, Shady Cove:
- Completed first full audit since 2020.
- Compiled and published the first budget-to-actual financial statement in 5 years.
- Adopted the first balanced budget with correct allocation of restricted funds. Parks and Streets now have dedicated funding that CANNOT be used to fund other projects and services.
- Conducted the first performance review of the city administrator.
- Revived $1.5M water project stalled for almost a year. Feasibility/Design in progress; Construction starts in January.
We are working to:
- Complete recruitment of a knowledgeable, experienced city administrator.
- Complete overdue audits – FY24 expected completion by July.
- Complete reconciliation of years of unreconciled bank statements.
- Negotiate a fair, reasonable union agreement and reinstate staff performance appraisals.
The group of grievance collectors behind this recall have no plan to bring Shady Cove back from the financial reporting and accountability disaster started in 2021, nor a plan to move forward.
They act on their personal grudges designed to destroy Shady Cove. It is time for Shady Cove to save itself from this cycle of self-destruction.”
Ballots can be returned via USPS or can be dropped off at the drop box in front of the Eagle Point Library, last-minute voters can have ballots hand-cancelled at any branch of the USPS. Remember to sign your ballot envelope or your vote won’t count.
