WARNER ROBINS – The recall petition targeting Post 4 City Council member Bob Wilbanks was halted Tuesday by Vida Rawls, municipal election superintendent.

In a letter to Robert M. Brashear, chairperson of the recall drive, Rawls stated the drive “did not meet the statutory requirements” for three reasons:

• the recall petition application pages were not bound together and numbered as required by law;

• the identity of the chairperson of the recall drive was omitted on several of the pages; and

• a statement that Wilbanks had acted in a manner that adversely affected the administration of his office was not submitted to Rawls and not placed by her on the application.

“The bottom line here is that there were no grounds submitted for the recall drive,” Wilbanks said Tuesday. “Some people made untrue statements, misrepresenting what I’ve done. I’m likely to seek civil and legal relief on this.”

Wilbanks went on to say he had received harassing and threatening phone calls recently, and he’s upset.

“This is very malicious and vengeful,” he said. “The majority vote of council means nothing to this mayor. If you go against him or his friends, they’ll try to destroy you. The people of the Post 4 have the right to start a petition but it’s got to be within the law.”

Rawls received the recall petition on Friday with 180 signatures. Only 100 were needed to begin the recall process, and Rawls had five days to validate information on the petition.

According to state election laws, no further recall petitions can be filed against Wilbanks for six months from the denial date.

The recall drive was apparently sparked by the City Council’s Aug. 12 action to reinstate Police Chief Brett Evans who had been suspended for seven days without pay by Mayor Chuck Shaheen for campaigning for candidate Chuck Chalk during last year’s run-off election. Wilbanks made the motion to reverse the mayor’s decision.