Residents of Garfield move to recall mayor

GARFIELD, Wash. (AP) _ Residents of the eastern Washington city of Garfield are working to recall the mayor due to looming fines from the state Department of Ecology and issues with the town's public works department.

The Moscow-Pullman Daily News reports (http://bit.ly/1WTGRyT ) that Mayor Ray McCown was served with recall papers on Wednesday night. The Whitman County Superior Court is required to hold a hearing on the matter within 15 days of the papers being submitted.

Residents who petitioned for his recall raised 12 formal complaints against McCown including accusations that he illegally sold public property, censored discussions at council meetings and discriminated against the public works director. They also complained that McCown has done nothing to stop the DOE from fining the city for violating effluent discharge regulations.

McCown denies the allegations and say he only wants what's best for Garfield.