HARPER ? Harper County Commissioner Robert Sharp is facing a recall election again. This time, though, he’s not holding out much hope that it will be canceled.

The Harper County clerk validated enough signatures Thursday on a recall petition to set a Nov. 4 election date.

“We’re glad it’s done,” said Eleanor Williams, a member of the recall committee. “It’s been a long haul and we’ve taken some heat. It’s the voters’ choice now.”

The recall is based on accusations that Sharp and other commissioners violated the Kansas Open Meetings Act in April 2001 by talking to each other on the phone about the hiring of a county employee.

“We allege that open meetings laws were violated when they were conducting business,” Williams said. “Anytime two commissioners were visiting about county business, that constitutes a forum.”

Former Harper County Commissioner Kenny Williams was ousted last year in a recall election based on similar allegations. Sharp’s recall was next on the agenda, with an election slated for Aug. 27, 2002.

But Pratt County District Judge Robert Schmisseur ruled that some of the people who carried the petition did not live in the commissioner’s district — as required at that time by state statute — so he canceled the election.

The residency requirement for petition carriers has been relaxed by the state, and 468 signatures on the new petition have been deemed valid.

“I wasn’t surprised the petition came through,” Sharp said. “That’s what I expected. They want it to turn their way and I want it to turn out my way.”

Sharp’s term as commissioner expires in November 2004. His 3rd District includes the city limits of Anthony and two townships.