Sudbury Recall Bill Draws Divided Testimony at State House Hearing

LEGISLATURE — July 21, 2026 — Sudbury recall bill draws more than a dozen witnesses to State House as committee takes no action. The Joint Committee on Election Laws, co-chaired by Representative Daniel J. Hunt and Senator John F. Keenan, heard sharply divided testimony Monday on House Bill 5521, which would add a recall election provision to Sudbury's town charter following a May 20 special town meeting vote of 474 to 394, with 938 registered voters present — roughly three to four times normal attendance. Representative Carmine Gentile, in his final House term, testified against the bill, citing the Select Board's four-to-one opposition and arguing the 10 percent signature threshold and 90-day protection window are too low compared to neighboring towns. Supporters including Select Board member Dan Cardi called the opposition "sour grapes" and "election denying," while researcher Diana Warren argued every provision in Sudbury's proposal mirrors language the legislature has already approved in special acts for more than 200 other municipalities. Nancy Brumbach of the League of Women Voters of Sudbury countered that five of seven proposed amendments were blocked by parliamentary procedure before the vote, and Kathryn Bell testified that the main motion saw "not any debate" before the question was called.