The Dickinson school district had a statewide reputation for excellence. The recall still amazes Melbye. While aware of alumni loyalty for the mascot and nickname, she says she and other board members assumed the community as a whole would accept that a sports team called the Midgets was out of tune, if not offensive, to modern sensitivities. I thought it was a very minor issue, compared to what we were dealing with . . . I did not see how a name such as the Midgets was a major issue.
Personality clashes The recall phenomenon appears to be most common in smaller communities.
That was certainly true in Parma, Idaho, where a recall last November was fueled by the transfer of a popular high school secretary. Much of the support for the recall, which ultimately failed by a huge margin, came from school employees and friends in the small farming community. When you have a personnel issue, move someone around, or change their salary, everyone knows. And if they don't agree, there's plenty of people who . . . In smaller communities, it's also easier to collect the signatures needed to petition for a new election.