The recall campaign to remove the Jackson County Sheriff began Monday right in front of his office.
FOX 47 News reported last week Sheriff Steve Rand declined to appeal recall language approved by the Board of State Canvassers.
Dean Schuette Sr. was collecting petition signatures in front of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office building on Monday.
He's the father of the sheriff's lieutenant who's suing the sheriff in federal court.
Rand was heard making discriminatory comments against women, minorities, and people with disabilities on audio recordings released as part of that lawsuit.
The sheriff has acknowledged his voice is on those recordings and has apologized for the comments.
Schuette has to collect over 15,000 signatures within 60 days.
Those signatures have to be submitted by Feb. 1 in order to force a recall election in 2019.
A primary election would then happen in May to determine Sheriff Rand's Democratic challenger since the sheriff is a Republican.
A recall election would be held in August.
If the signatures are submitted after Feb. 1, the final recall election wouldn't happen until 2020.
The only way Rand can be removed from his seat is by a recall vote or governor's order.
The county asked Gov. Rick Snyder to remove Rand back in February.
The governor asked the Attorney General's Office to review the situation shortly thereafter, but nothing has been done.
