State Sen. Patrick Colbeck is the latest Michigan Republican facing a recall effort after voting for a new law that gives controversial powers to state-appointed emergency managers.

The Wayne County Elections Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved petition language targeting the Canton Township Republican for his vote on Public Act 4, paving the way for volunteers to collect the signatures necessary to put the recall before voters in February.

"The citizens don't want unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats taking control of our schools and communities after Lansing has imposed massive budgets cuts to drive them into budget crises," Mary Kelley, a Northville resident who is heading the recall effort, said in a released statement.

"Governor Snyder and Patrick Colbeck support the Emergency Financial Manager law that threatens local control of our democratic institutions---our school and cities."

Kelly said the recall group plans to begin collecting signatures in ten days, at which time Colbeck's ability to appeal the election commission decision expires. Once the first signature is collected, the group has 90 days to collect at least 27,000 signatures in time for a February special election.

Colbeck acknowledged the importance of the recall process but argued it should be reserved for lawmakers who engage in unethical behavior or malfeasance.

"It is unfair to taxpayers to spend their money on recall elections when an elected official does their job and casts a vote as they were elected to do," Colbeck said in a statement released this morning to MLive.com "If we disagree with a lawmaker's philosophy or voting record we can work to vote them out of office at the next election.

"I have cast every single vote based on what I was elected to do by an overwhelming majority of the voters in my district, which is to restore fiscal responsibility to our state government and create an environment for job growth. I will continue to focus on the important work before us as we strive to create jobs and restore opportunity and economic stability to our state and to our residents."

Colbeck's 7th district includes Trenton, Canton, Plymouth and part of Northville.