2,680 / 30.4% Yes votes ...... 6,135 / 69.6% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

The Charter also provides that the City Administrator generally appoints non-elected City officers. This measure would provide that the city clerk and finance officer/city treasurer would be officers of the City appointed by the City Administrator.

This measure would not become effective immediately; it will be phased in at the earlier of the time a vacancy occurs or the expiration of a term. If the measure passes, no future elections for the offices would be conducted. Thus, the changes provided in this measure will not affect the term of the person who presently holds the office of City Treasurer or the term of the person who may be elected to the office of City Clerk at the November, 2002 elections.

We need to face the reality that we have outgrown the need for a part time City Clerk and City Treasurer.

We have City staff members who are experienced professional clerks and financial managers. These dedicated City employees can and do perform the full range of duties of the City Clerk and the City Treasurer. A part time City Clerk and a part time City Treasurer no longer have meaningful roles to play in a lean, experienced, service oriented City government that serves a large urban community. These offices are luxuries we can no longer afford.

This measure asks our residents to change the way our City Clerk and City Treasurer are chosen and to ensure that the City Administrator develops comprehensive sets of qualifications for the jobs. The criteria for choosing who will manage City funds and public records should be straightforward qualifications and competence. These jobs require experts -- not an election -- and should be positions for which one has to qualify -- not run.

We urge you to vote YES for Measure Y and help ensure accountability in the protection of our City's funds and records.

• An elected City Council to set policy
• An elected City Clerk to keep track of City meetings, documents, resolutions and laws.
• An elected Treasurer to be informed of what's actually being spent by the City.

We believe in an informed Citizenry. An Elected Treasurer and Clerk are a valuable asset in keeping the public informed with accurate, timely facts as to what's brewing at City Hall; two sets of additional citizen eyes and ears. This is an issue about information and accountability. Vote No on Measure Y, the measure to eliminate our elected positions.

Accountability means that our administrative officials MUST BE ACCOUNTABLE EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY SINGLE DAY!

Under this measure the voters gain the assurance that the City Clerk and City Treasurer will be highly competent and capable professionals who will be required to have comprehensive qualifications and to perform their jobs to our high standards EVERY SINGLE DAY. If they don't, they can and will be let go. In a way, they will be subject to an election every day they are in office.

We want the best and the brightest to be entrusted to our service. We want our government officials to be accountable for their work and performance EVERY SINGLE DAY they are in office.

Vote "Yes" and make sure Placentia receives the professional and accountable public servants we deserve.