Audra Byrd and Semi Bird were elected in 2021 on a wave of frustration over the state mask mandate. But there also were parents and citizens who were grateful for the extra caution and protective measures being taken, especially while hospitals were overrun with COVID patients and the death count from the disease continued to climb. The division in the community was reflected at school board meetings, which often turned ugly, exhausting and even frightening. At one point, school officials started making sure there was a security officer attending the meetings just to help keep control. The last thing Richland needs is a repeat of those bitter times. The recall is not about masks and it’s not about how Gov. Jay Inslee managed the pandemic. It’s about how Byrd, Williams and Bird put themselves above the law, and they did it with a vote the public didn’t see coming.