A Topeka resident formally launched an effort Wednesday to recall Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, but state law creates large hurdles to force an election.
Sonny Scroggins contends Kobach has been “derelict in his duties,” partly because of Kobach’s work on immigration issues outside the state. Scroggins submitted a $100 application fee and a copy of his proposed recall petition to the office of Lieutenant Governor Jeff Colyer, who will determine the validity of a recall petition.
But the application won’t be considered valid unless supporters collect signatures from almost 83,000 registered voters - and doing so would give them the right to gather the nearly 332,000 signatures required within 90 days to force an election.
Kobach has said that he works full-time as secretary of state and handles immigration work in off hours. A former law professor, he’s advised officials in other states on immigration and helped draft tough laws in Alabama and Arizona.
He noted yesterday that he faced criticism over such work - and other issues raised by Scroggins - during the 2010 race for secretary of state.