Impeachment is a prolonged, messy problem that usually requires some kind of criminal conviction to get the guy out of office.

Opposition to recalls comes from people who say just let voters kick the guy out at re-election, said Hogue.

That's fine if the officeholder faces re-election in the near-term, he adds.

"But what if it is a four- or even six-year term and he's only been in a few months" when he runs seriously afoul of public opinion? What if he's elected under false pretenses that are only discovered when he's been in office a short time? Hogue asks.

Hogue's HJR5 would change the Constitution to say that local governing bodies can decide for themselves how elected officials in their areas can be recalled from office.

Is Hogue thinking of running a bill, should HJR5 pass, that would detail how legislators can be recalled from office? "No, but down the road someone else may," Hogue said.

It's really not necessary for two-year House of Representative members to face a recall, he added.

"Even after our first session after an election, we are almost running for re-election again." Voters can get after a representative quickly enough, he notes.

"It is not my intent to call for recall of governors or even legislators," Hogue said. But at the same time, the Legislature shouldn't stand in the way of a local city or town that wants to adopt a recall ordinance of its own, he added.

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com