A petition started by four members of the state Democratic Party’s central committee seeks to remove Sheena Kadi, the party’s vice chair of public relations and marketing, from her elected position.

Kadi has held the state party position since last year.

The petition is tied to the recent court ruling that granted Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, a protective order against Kadi.

Kadi had been granted a temporary restraining order against Herod in January — but a Denver judge vacated that order in February, concluding that Kadi’s allegations were “incredible” and unsubstantiated. 

The petition was started by University of Colorado Regent Wanda James; Samantha Walsh, who is co-chair of House District 24 in Jefferson County; Hashim Coates, a candidate for Arapahoe County commissioner; and, Neal Walia, co-chair of the Colorado South Asian Democrats Initiative.

The petition asks that Kadi’s party credentials be immediately suspended, that she be banned on participating in party events and meetings, that her access to voter files be suspended; that a cease and desist be issued for using any “self-given title of ‘spokesperson’ on any of her online or physical biographies, along with commenting on party activities or meetings on social media”; and, that Kadi be removed from her position as vice chair on the state central committee.

“As reported in multiple news articles on March 18th, 2024, Ms. Kadi (she/her) was found by a court of law to have engaged in belligerent harassment of Representative Leslie Herod (she/her),” the petition states.

The allegations by Kadi against Herod are “incredibly serious,” the petition says.

Kadi, who is also the public information officer for Democratic state Treasurer Dave Young, has not responded to requests for comment.

The petitioners said they believe Kadi has never filed a formal party complaint against Herod and “instead chose to engage in a harassment campaign on social media and through word of mouth to inflict as much damage as possible against a respected member of our elected delegation.”

While the Democratic Party “stands proudly as an organization to believe all victims of harassment,” the organization also understands the “imbalanced scrutiny and biases” experienced by women of color in the justice system as well as the public eye, the petition says. 

They also called Kadi’s behavior on social media inappropriate and unethical, the petition adds. 

Walsh told Colorado Politics there are several methods outlined in party rules to remove an officer. Two members of the state central committee can file a complaint, which the four have done. The parties must then collect 50 signatures for the petition. 

She said other people have reached out to add their names to the complaint. 

Once the petition with 50 signatures is filed, the state party chair, Shad Murib, will convene a “controversy committee,” a type of ethics panel, which can recommend the punishment outlined in the petition.

That can happen right away, according to Murib.

A separate process can be pursued for removal of a party officer that would be dealt with by the central committee. 

Petitioners could also bypass the “controversy” committee with enough signatures — one-fifth of the central committee, which would decide the matter.  

Murib has called on Kadi to resign.