06/05/2009

Associated Press

An effort to recall Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser could go to court over a recount snag.

Kansas City Clerk Vicki Thompson told the City Council she can't honor recall petitioners' request to recount signatures they collected. The group came within 129 signatures of sparking a recall.

The City Council, which met Thursday, received a memo from Thompson that said election boards in Clay and Platte counties refused to conduct recounts unless ordered by a court.

Election officials in the two counties confirmed their position. They said they found nothing in the governing rules that authorizes them to recount recall signatures.

Recall committee spokesman Harris Wilder said he thinks legal action might be the only way for petitioners to get a recount.

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Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com