Last week's filing deadline found only one Lincoln resident willing to be added to the ballot for the Sept. 13 recall election of all seven city council members.

Former mayor Bob Johnston pulled together the necessary two-dozen signatures to put his name on the ballot. No other petitions were submitted, according to election official and city auditor Kim Kramer. Johnston will challenge Ricky Fischer, Pete Hoerner and Kathy Schneibel for a three-year term on the council. Council members Helen Magilke, Mary Ann Filibeck, Karen Daly and Mayor Glenn Christmann remain unchallenged, with the exception of write-in candidates.

Johnson was mayor of Lincoln for six years prior to being defeated by Christmann in 2004.

"I was astounded that no one else came forward. The last election, I didn't campaign because I thought Glenn would do a good job,"Johnston said. "The reason I didn't run for mayor this time is because I still feel Glenn is doing a good job."

Johnston has been serving the city as part of an advisory committee that has been looking at whether the city should be hiring a city administrator and if the budget can accommodate any more city employees.

"I think there needs to be a change on the city council," Johnston said. "There are some problems. The council spends more time fighting amongst themselves than attending to city business. I was sort of committed to running if the recall went through, because I said I would run."

Secretary of State Al Jaeger had his misgivings about the intent of those who filed petitions to have the council members recalled. He reviewed the reasons given by those who circulated the petitions and noted the reason given in all cases was "irresponsible representation." Jaeger said the formats of the petitions, including the reasons for recall, are reviewed by his office.

"We don't pass judgment on the reasons a recall is undertaken in the first place, but we do like to see what they say,"Jaeger said. "This is certainly a privilege of the people, and from my standpoint, something to be taken seriously.

"If someone is to be recalled for some reason, others come forward that have concerns and put their name on the ballot," Jaeger said. "In Lincoln, everybody has been recalled, but we're going to go through this election and its expense, and only one person has stepped forward."

Jaeger wanted to remind voters that a recall is not an up or down decision - that it is a contest between individuals and a person is only successfully recalled if defeated by a challenger. The time to find candidates is that period between the circulation of petitions and filing deadline, not after the deadline, Jaeger said.

"The most effective way to be elected is to have your name printed on the ballot," Jaeger said. "While a write-in campaign can still certainly happen, my observation is that it is a real big challenge and isn't usually successful. By and large, it's really tough to have a write-in campaign."

"The thing is, people that undertake recalls should have a responsibility that if they are successful, be prepared to have people step up to the plate and run for office. The fact that only one person stepped forward in Lincoln makes you question how valid were the reasons for the recall? It can't be just all talk; somebody has to run. All the agony that's gone on in Lincoln, all the contentious meetings - somehow the process of governing and making the community better got lost in the recall effort."

The recall election is set from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 13. Ballots will be cast atLincoln City Hall. Absentee ballots will be ready by Aug. 24, Kramer said. The election is estimated to cost up to $2,000.

(Gordon Weixel can be reached at 250-8255 or at gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)