Issue might be on Aug. 5 ballot.

The third time was the charm for a Northport woman seeking a recall election aimed at Northport Board of Education member Alan Woods.

On Thursday, the county Election Commission unanimously approved recall petition language submitted by Tanya Campos as “clear.” The panel had twice rejected petition language earlier this year.

County Clerk Michelle Crocker, county Treasurer Vicky Kilway, and Probate Court Judge Joseph Deegan are the members of the commission, and one of their questions involved the repetition by Campos of the preamable on the petition form. Crocker said she would check with state officials to see if the repetition would be a problem. If so, Campos would have to remove that part of the language.

Campos listed three reasons for seeking a recall of Woods:

• “Creating a conflict of interest with his school board trustee role by filing a complaint on Sept. 4, 2007, charging the school with violating his and his wife’s right to meaningfully participate in their child’s education and with denying their right to an independent educational evaluation of their child.”

• “Continuing to serve as a school board member when he cannot fully participate in board business, particularly in discussions and decisions in regard to the above referenced complaint.”

• “Abridging his fiduciary responsibility by costing the school $91,571.56 alone” during September, October and November “for legal fees to defend the school against his complaint.”

Neither Campos nor Woods attended the clarity hearing. Both Crocker and Kilway took issue with different points in Campos’ reasons, but Deegan said state law concerning recall petition clarity hearings is very clear. “We don’t get to do a lot with this language. All we can do is determine is it clear enough for the person named in the petition to defend himself,” Deegan said.

Ruth Walker, one of seven audience members at the hearing, said Campos’ language was clear, in her opinion. “I would be able to make a decision in the voting booth,” she said.

Woods said Friday he was contacted by Crocker and told the petition was approved, and that Campos was now free to begin circulating petitions in the community. Woods has said in the past that he is confused about why Campos is seeking his recall, but now that the petition language is settled, he believes he can win.

“I really feel it will be a matter of getting my side out to the public,” he said.

With Woods’ term on the board up for regular election in May 2009, recall supporters will need to collect 339 signatures of registered voters within the Northport Public School District by May 13 in order to get the petition on the Aug. 5, 2008 Primary Election ballot.

Campos said yesterday she is confident that she and the five or so people collecting valid signatures will meet the requirement. While she is attending classes at Michigan State University, Campos said she already has at least one petition sheet filled out on her own. “Every place I stop, the people signing the petition tell me ‘Oh, you should go here.’ People are really supporting this effort,” she said.

Campos is not asking business owners to leave a petition on their counter because she doesn’t want to put them in awkward positions. She is not, however having problems finding people willing to sign the petitions. “Even people I didn’t think would care are signing up. People are looking for me so they can sign up.”