Measure C: City Clerk Office

Kern County, CA

November 3, 1998 General

Measure C
City Clerk Office
City of California City

1,156 / 52.5% Yes votes ...... 1,045 / 47.5% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Infomation shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

Shall the office of City Clerk be appointive?

Impartial Analysis from City Attorney of the City of California City

Currently, the City Clerk of the City of California City is elected for four year terms. If Measure C is approved by a majority of those voting, the City Clerk for the City of California City will not be elected. The City Clerk will be appointed by the City Council of the City of California City.

Partisan Information

The position of the City Council, and the City Clerk, is that the City Clerk should be an appointed position, appointed by the City Council.: Statement of the Present City Clerk

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Arguments For Measure C

The role of the City Clerk in the modern City has changed dramatically over the last two decades. The position has become increasingly more technical in nature, as electronic media storage for documents replace paper records, and the computer, word processing and spreadsheets replace the typewriter, carbon paper and ruler. As the technical skill requirements increase, so do other areas of ability, such as communication with the taxpaying public as either official or ex-officio Public Information Officer, and certain mandated duties as Filing Officer for the Fair Political Practices Commission, a statewide political watchdog organization which keeps candidates and office holders on a level and ethical playing field.

An elected City Clerk in California City cannot be required to have any qualifications other than being 18 years of age, a registered voter and resident of California City. If the City Clerk is appointed, the City Council has an opportunity to screen applicants for minimum qualifications of a technical nature along with an evaluation of organizational and communications skills demanded by the position. Because of the potential for electing an unqualified individual to this important position in City government, an event that has happened more than once in the City's history, it is the position of the supporters of this measure that the City Clerk should be Appointed by the City Council.

s/Larry Adams, Mayors/Karen L. Benson, Vice Mayors/Harry V. Bailey, City Council Members/Nicholas Lessenevitch, City Council Members/Lottie M. Walker, City Council Member

(No arguments against Measure C were submitted)

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Created: February 16, 1999 18:54
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