BELHAVEN – Mayor Adam O’Neal blames state Sen. Stan White, D-Dare, for amending a bill filed to alter the Town of Belhaven’s charter.

The bill would allow recall elections for the mayor and town council members.

White represents Beaufort County in the Senate.

The recall bill was requested by a unanimous vote of the town council.

The legislation was introduced by Rep. Bill Cook, R-Beaufort.

The bill passed the House and Senate, but not before being amended in the Senate. The amendment ensured the issue of whether to have recall elections would go before Belhaven voters in a Nov. 8, Election Day referendum.

O’Neal, a Republican, faulted White and political elements he didn’t name for altering the bill, which would have amended the charter without taking the issue to voters in a referendum.

Former Mayor Charles Boyette, O’Neal’s onetime opponent, has gone on record as opposing the recall bill.

“It made it through the House – Rep. Cook saw to that,” O’Neal said. “Then, when it got to the Senate, it’s very unfortunate that a handful of politically connected people have delayed the recall election provision, amendment, from being instituted until a referendum is had in November. And I fully and totally welcome the opportunity to talk about it through November. But it’s a shame that Sen. White, after having unanimous approval of the town council, saw fit to delay it more.”

O’Neal predicted the measure will pass “70, 80 percent” this fall.

“Watch,” he said.

Cook, in Belhaven for a town-hall-style meeting with constituents Thursday evening, said in an earlier interview the referendum would cost taxpayers money.

“I’ve gotten all kinds of emails in favor of this,” Cook commented.

In a telephone interview Friday, White said he heard from Belhaven constituents concerned about the bill.

“What was I hearing from a large majority of the people that were emailing and calling me – and two or three told me face to face, said that they didn’t think a recall was necessary, but they sure didn’t think it should be something shoved down their throat because basically they didn’t think on their budget (the town) could afford to pay for a recall election,” White said. “I told them the same thing that I have told anybody that has asked me about a bill like that, is that I’m not prepared to make a final decision about how a community is going to do something. I always prefer that people make their own decisions.”

White said he had an aide inform Cook of the amendment as soon as it passed on the Senate floor. The senator expected Cook to “do some hard lobbying” against the amendment.

“Quite honestly I was prepared for it to get defeated in the House and have to go to a conference committee,” White said.

The final, amended bill passed with an overwhelming majority, he pointed out.

“On a decision that affects a town’s budget and affects the future political arena of the town, I just think the people, the voters in that town, have the right to make that decision,” he said.

If voters approved it, the recall initiative would allow town residents to submit a petition to recall an elected mayor or council member. The petition would need the signatures of at least 25 percent of the town’s registered voters.

The Beaufort County Board of Elections would schedule a recall election 60 to 120 days after getting and verifying the petition.

Each petition would list the name of only one official targeted for recall.

“Candidates’ names shall be placed on the ballot, the election held, and the results canvassed, under the same rules, conditions and regulations as provided under Section 4.4 of this Charter and under Chapter 163 of the General Statutes,” the bill reads.

The recalled official could be a candidate to succeed himself or herself but, if the recall target lost, he or she would have to relinquish office as soon as a successor took the oath.

The read the bill online, visit: http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2011%20%20&BillID=h291.