South Saint Paul, Minnesota — A group of South St. Paul residents filed paperwork on Friday to start the process of recalling Council Member Pam Bakken after a child allegedly ingested methamphetamine at her in-home daycare.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) looked into Bakken’s daycare after a 3-year-old child tested positive for methamphetamine after being picked up there in December. The MDH report resulted in the suspension of Bakken’s at-home daycare license due to an imminent risk of harm to the people served.
In a press release issued Friday morning, the “Recall Bakken” citizen group stated that they had requested the South St. Paul City Clerk to certify their paperwork.
Within a few hours, the City Clerk certified it, allowing the group to begin collecting signatures in preparation for a special election to remove Bakken from the council.
“It is unfortunate that it has come to this. Since the beginning of this situation, nearly four months ago, citizens of South St. Paul have repeatedly asked members of the City Council to speak up and demand accountability and answers from Council Member Bakken, but have been met with deafening silence,” said Molly Smith, Chair of the Committee to Recall Bakken, in a written statement.
“It’s a shame that none of our city elected officials have had the courage to do the right thing and ask for Bakken’s resignation.”
The recall committee now has 30 days to collect signatures from registered South St. Paul voters and get the issue on the ballot for a special election. The committee must collect 2,763 signatures, representing 25% of the city’s voters.
