Effort afoot to remove Poplar Bluff councilman

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Leaders of the African-American community are considering the possibility of having a special election to remove Poplar Bluff Ward 5 Councilman Peter Tinsley from office.

Since Tinsley refused to resign at a council meeting last week, the black leaders have been researching the recall process as outlined in the Missouri Revised Statutes.

"We have to learn all the procedures and make up our minds the first of the week," Colvin McDonald said.

McDonald said the research is being done by Bill Turner, a former city council member.

"The reasoning for the recall has to be compiled," Turner said.

The African-American leaders are upset with Tinsley's posting of an offensive caricature of President Barack Obama on Tinsley's Facebook page.

They expressed how "greatly upset" they are during the past two council meetings.

On Aug. 18, the Rev. Tommy Robinson, pastor of the Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church, told Tinsley his constituents in Ward 5 were "highly angry over the depictions on Facebook."

Tinsley apologized during the council meeting, removed the postings from his Facebook page and wrote a letter of apology, which he posted on Facebook.

On Sept. 2, Robinson asked Tinsley to resign, but he refused.

"The community at large has stated to us at a meeting they have lost trust in the councilman of our ward," Robinson said.

Tinsley said he had apologized for his actions and cited his volunteer work and his respect for the black leaders.

"There is no reason for me to step down," Tinsley said.

The black leaders disagree.

"We don't see how we can get proper representation when a man has something like that in his heart," McDonald said.

He noted the offensive caricature was on Tinsley's Facebook page from October until August.

Tinsley was elected to a three-year term on the council in April.

According to state law, any holder of an elective office must have held the office for at least six months before a recall petition can be filed.

The petition must be signed by at least 25 percent of the total number of registered voters in Ward 5. The signatures must be collected within a 60-day period after the first signature is obtained.

A statement of the reasons for which recall is sought must not be longer than 200 words.

The reasons for recall are misconduct in office or incompetence or failure to perform duties prescribed by law, according to state statutes.

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, Mo.