Scotts Bluff County board sets Sept. 9 recall election date for District 3 commissioner

The Scotts Bluff County Board of Commissioners on July 8 adopted a resolution setting Sept. 9, 2025, as the date for a recall election in County Commissioner District 3.

County Clerk Kelly Sides read the certification included in the resolution: a recall affidavit was filed, petitions were issued and returned, the clerk certified the required number of valid signatures had been collected (the packet listed 745 total signatures submitted, 35 rejected and 710 valid signatures) and service was completed on the subject of the recall and the governing body on June 27. The governing body declared the signature threshold met for recall purposes and the board set the recall election for Sept. 9, 2025, in the voting precincts of County Commissioner District 3.

Commissioners discussed whether the vote on the election date presented a conflict of interest for Commissioner Charlie Knapper; county civil counsel Jason Ocean and the county attorney advised that the action to set an election date is a ministerial/procedural duty required by statute and not a discretionary decision that would require recusal. Commissioners emphasized the vote was procedural: the governing body must order an election within statutory timelines or the matter will proceed through court processes.

Commissioners moved to adopt the resolution as presented and unanimously approved it, recorded as 5 yeses.

Ending: The county clerk will proceed with election scheduling tasks, including consideration of whether the election qualifies for mail balloting under state law; staff provided an estimate of election costs at about $10,000, subject to actual materials and final accounting.