Buchanan Mayoral recall will be on November ballot

BUCHANAN, Mich. -- Residents in the City of Buchanan have submitted enough signatures to trigger a mayoral recall vote during the general election on Nov. 5, the Berrien County Elections Administrator has confirmed.

Organizers submitted 396 valid recall petition signatures (380 needed) to hold a recall vote on Mayor Sean Denison who currently has two years left of his four-year term. 

Two of the residents who led the recall efforts, Monroe Lemay and Carla Johnson claim that Denison should be recalled because of the way he handled complaints against former City Manager Ben Eldridge in November of 2023. 

Denison suspended Eldridge, but Johnson and Lemay, along with at least 394 other Buchanan residents, believe suspending Eldridge without approval of the City Commission was outside of his authority.

Eldridge resigned and now holds the same position in Dowagiac.