Early voting is underway in Columbia Heights where residents will decide on whether to recall an embattled City Council member, and if so, who will take her place.
Three candidates are running for the seat that KT Jacobs will be forced to vacate if she is recalled during a special election set for Feb. 13. Voters can also cast ballots through Feb. 12 at the Columbia Heights City Hall, 3989 Central Av. NE.
Just one question appears on the ballot.
"Shall Council member KT Jacobs be recalled?" the question reads. Voters are given the option to vote "yes" or "no."
Voters also are instructed to select Robert Rogne, Stan Hoium, or Laurel Deneen to replace Jacobs if the recall effort is successful.
Jacobs, whose term runs through Jan. 6, 2025, sued the city last fall to stop the election, arguing that a petition submitted by a citizens group seeking to have her removed from office was "procedurally defective." But an Anoka County judge dismissed Jacobs' suit and gave the north metro suburb permission to proceed.
Jacobs' lawyer, Gregory Joseph, immediately filed an appeal, and in December the state Supreme Court agreed to hear Jacobs' case. Oral arguments are set for Feb. 7, Joseph said.
It was not immediately clear how that could impact the election, but city spokesman Will Rottler said "the election is moving forward until the city hears otherwise from the Supreme Court."