In the small northwest Oklahoma community of Enid, a recall election looms large as residents decide whether to remove a city councilor with ties to white supremacist groups. Judd Blevins, an Iraq War veteran and attendee of the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, will face off against opponent Cheryl Patterson in a nonpartisan race open to all registered voters in the ward.

The recall effort, spearheaded by Connie Vickers and Nancy Presnall, two longtime Enid residents and Democrats, successfully collected 350 signatures from voters, exceeding the required 240. Vickers emphasized that the movement was not limited to party lines, stating, "This isn't a Republican-Democrat thing. It's a Nazi and not-Nazi thing."

During a community forum, Blevins confirmed his participation in the Unite the Right rally and his affiliation with the now-defunct white-supremacist group Identity Evropa. While he claimed to now oppose racial hate and discrimination, Blevins maintained that his involvement aimed to draw attention to issues such as border security and immigration reform, echoing sentiments that he believed contributed to Donald Trump's election in 2016.

Despite the local newspaper's coverage of Blevins' ties to white nationalism, his election to the city council has raised concerns among many residents regarding Enid's reputation. The city, which is actively seeking to attract businesses and young professionals, worries about the negative impact of having a councilor associated with such ideologies.

Patrick Anderson, a local banker and lifelong Republican, expressed surprise and disappointment, stating, "I'm surprised anyone thinks that way in this day and age. And then to find out someone in our own community is involved in that, it's concerning and disappointing. It certainly doesn't reflect the views of our community."

Although Enid is predominantly white, with a growing Hispanic population and diverse communities including Marshallese citizens, Anderson believed that declining newspaper readership and voter apathy contributed to Blevins' narrow victory in the previous election.

As the recall election approaches, Enid residents remain divided on the issue, with some showing support for Blevins and others seeking his removal from office. Tuesday's election will determine whether Enid's leadership will distance themselves from associations with white supremacist groups and maintain the city's reputation as a diverse and inclusive community.

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