It's business as usual for Commissioner Kevin Stufflebean, even as the group trying to recall him turned in 5,300 signatures in support of the recall Tuesday. Stufflebean isn't surprised they gathered that much support, nor is he changing his focus on county business.

"I know the effort they have put to gathering signatures,"  he said today.

The commissioner anticipated he might face a recall campaign before he made the decision to lay off 22 people in the road department. And, almost three months later, the issue isn't just about the county's road crew, he said, it's evolved into a way  for some people to express anger at any decision he made they don't agree with.

"There were (11,000) people who voted against me and more than that who voted for me, so you have to expect that," he said, referring to his election in 2006.

As for the group spearheading the recall, Stufflebean said its leader, former county roadmaster Larry Van Elsberg isn't completely blameless.

"Had he done his job as  roadmaster and not resigned, we wouldn't be in this position," Stufflebean said.

The recall election is not guaranteed. Petitioners representing the group called Citizens for a Fair and Open Government still must wait to see whether they gathered enough valid signatures to bring the recall to a special election after March 27.

"Approximately 5,344 signatures were filed which will be validated by the Election staff of the County Clerk's office over the next 10 days," a county press release said. "The process is slow and methodical, following state statute and administrative rule."

The required amount is 3,773.

"We are pretty confident with this batch, we turned in enough," chief petitioner Van Elsberg said.

Volunteers plan to continue to canvass neighborhoods throughout the county just in case.

The verification process includes several steps. Elections officials inspect each signature sheet to confirm it is filled out correctly. Once each sheet is inspected, they start verifying signatures. After 10 days, elections notifies the petitioner, either that there are enough signatures or that more are needed. If the petitioner has enough valid signatures, the office sends notice to the elected official, who has five days to resign or give reason he or she should stay in office. If the elected official doesn't resign, a special election is scheduled in 35 days.