A revolution in small city elections is sitting right now on Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk waiting for his signature. Brown has until Oct. 11 to make decisions about a long list of items ranging from Veterans to electric vehicles, marijuana to telecommunications, tow trucks to parking spots — a host of bills that our booming economy and the Internet age have hatched. But it’s the small city election laws awaiting his signature that have the greatest potential to update and perhaps revolutionize our local government representation.
A long overdue simplification of the voting schedule, better oversight of small city elections by the Secretary of State, more opportunities for participation at the county level and more direct representation in smaller cities with populations under 100,000 –- these are the big changes in the bills awaiting Gov. Brown’s approval. Each of the bills was written and passed by our Democratic Party-controlled Assembly and Senate. They received an “aye” (yes) vote from our representatives — Assemblymember Richard Bloom and Senator Fran Pavley (although Bloom did not vote on AB 254.)
Here are brief descriptions of the bills (thank you to the California League of Cites for the research). You can find more about the status of each of them online.
SB 493 (Cannella): Elections in Cities: By or from districts
SB 493 would authorize a city council of a city with a population less than 100,000 to adopt an ordinance to switch the election system from at-large to a district system. West Hollywood currently has an at-large City Council.
AB 1301 (Jones-Sawyer): Voting rights: preclearance
AB 1301 would establish a statewide preclearance system, requiring that voting-related laws, regulations and policies be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval.
Bill AB 347 (Chang): Los Angeles County City Selection Committee.
Streamlines the Los Angeles County City Selection Committee quorum process by specifying that if the mayor is not present at the City Selection Committee, then another member of that city council can vote, based on seniority. The City Selection Committee appoints city representatives to boards, commissions and agencies such as the South Coast Air Quality Management District, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Los Angeles County Hazardous Waste Management Advisory Committee and nominates for appointment members to the California Coastal Commission.
Bill AB 254 (Hernández): Consolidated election dates.
Beginning in 2020, this bill would move the date of local elections such as that for the West Hollywood City Council, which typically take places in March, to the date of gubernatorial and presidential elections, which take place in November of even years.
These bills all reflect a future of open voting and direct representation that the Internet has been calling for. Social media has encouraged more direct contact between people and institutions. All those tweets and posts about babies and cats and issues and opportunities are the new normal. Elected officials now operate at the Internet speed of light and do their best when they have unfiltered access to those they represent.
All of these bills will result in higher levels of voter participation and better representation of voters and issues in local government. Many of us have long hoped for such a day. For example, Mayor Horvath and I worked to support AB 254 (the election consolidation bill) as it worked its way through the legislature. I personally hope that the governor signs all of these bills, especially SB 493 (district elections) and AB 254 (election consolidation).
SB 493 would let West Hollywood establish separate voting districts for each City Council seat. That means the city would have five separate voting districts that are based on neighborhood characteristics and issues. Perhaps there would be an Eastside District, a Central City District, a Sunset Strip District, a West Hollywood West District and a Santa Monica Boulevard West District. That’s five districts – each responsive to the needs of its neighborhoods and committed to the overall success of the city.
Residents of a neighborhood could elect a representative who understands their neighborhood best. More careful understanding of neighbors and neighborhood issues would mean better communication about issues at City Hall. It also means each Council member would represent about 7,500 people — a much more feasible task for a part –time elected representative. Of course it would take time to establish these districts. To identify and name them would require input from residents and voters. But that process also offers an opportunity for us to understand how our city can work best.
If AB 254 is signed, moving city elections to the same date as gubernatorial and presidential elections, which take place in November in even-numbered years, the number of people voting for West Hollywood councilmembers would likely more than triple. (In statewide and federal elections approximately 17,000 West Hollywood residents vote. In the March City Council elections only about 5,000 voters turned out.)
Combining district voting with city elections that are held on the general election date means each district candidate would have to reach perhaps 4,000 potential voters rather than the 20,000 that would have to be reached in a citywide general election. That means people who understand their neighborhoods can find their voice, get elected and represent their neighbors in a dynamic and careful way. These bills are the one-two punch that our city’s election system has been missing for 30 years.
A combination of these bills also would help to wring some of the money out of our city’s elections. Sure, some of the old holdover ideas about how to win an election will persist, but district elections with community candidates will more evenly modulate the relationship between donations (including those from unregulated PACs) and candidates. The other bills, SB 493 and AB 1301, are thoughtful political daylight bills that regulate and open up for more scrutiny and better participation election rules and appointments to county boards and commissions. As our world becomes simultaneously more connected and more complicated, it is bills like these that make openness and participation easier.
Residents of small cities like West Hollywood deserve part-time elected officials who can be as effective as possible. I believe these four bills set us up to do just that. I encourage everyone, whatever your position on these bills, to write a quick note to Governor Brown letting him know your thoughts about our democracy. You can reach his office here.
John D’Amico is a West Hollywood City Council member.
I tend to agree with Steve that moving elections to November will mean local issues will be overlooked and our local city council will just will just become an bigger part of the “machine” with ballot cards that go all the way down the line to our local elections.
Moving the City Council elections to November and creating districts in a city the size of West Hollywood are just really bad, ill conceived ideas. These changes are fraught with unintended consequences, none of which will improve our local democracy. If our local elections are consolidated with the November elections, any discussion of our important municipal issues will be over looked and ignored. These ideas don’t empower anyone but incumbents and special interests.
West Hollywood “West” (a presumptuous designation, but then the other other West Hollywood West has the much classier name, Norma Triangle) should just rename itself East Beverly Hills, since that’s what they want to be.
I’ve proposed for years that we have 7 council members, 5 districts, 2 at large, the mayor rotates b/w the two at large members half the time (once each every four years) while the 5 district members serve the other half of the time.
Let’s hope Gov. Brown does not sign the bill that would consolidate our municipal elections with the November elections. Sure a November election would result in higher voter turn out but that does not mean we will have a democracy that functions any better. After all North Korea has a 98% voter turn out. Electing Council members in a November election will simply give incumbents and well-heeled candidates that can self finance an advantage. The costs of sending out a campaign mailer will skyrocket, forcing all but the most affluent from seeking office. Mail from local candidates will disappear under… Read more »
Flores St. – May I humbly suggest that you should have refrained from using a designation which is no longer valid. When a position is eliminated, one usually stops referring to it as if it still exists. And, as far as I know, there are, indeed, no more deputies like Ms. Rex at City Hall.
Empower the People – Are there not still assistants/deputies that manage the work? Please refrain from being so literal.
Flores St. – NEWS FLASH: There are no more deputies. The position was abolished by the City Council a few months ago. Where have you been ?
It appears that we are over-crowded with Council on the West. Duran represents the North West (sorry Kim). Heilman the Mid-West. Horvath is a Midtown-South Lady. But, D’Amico and Meister are both representing West Hollywood West. So, one of them needs to resign! As Meister has been most un-popular with voters, since her election on March 3, 2015, she should be the one to go! In her place we need a real East-Side representative, such as:
1) Allegra Allison; 2) Mike Dolan; or 3) Chad Blouin.
Comment if you agree: “Swap Meister for an Eastsider.”
I support moving the election date, but I think for a city as small as ours, it should not be such a challenge for the council-members to represent the entire city. However, maybe the deputies should be assigned by geographic location to get the best intentions of that idea without any of the negative consequences that could emerge from changing how we currently vote for council-members.
The implementation of City Districts is long overdue. I hope the Governor signs this bill. I’ve lived in the same apartment for almost 37 years and know my neighborhood extremely well. I think it will empower the residents to a greater degree, knowing that this is THEIR elected official.