Pass: 22486 / 54.90% Yes votes ...... 18475 / 45.10% No votes

See Also: Index of all Propositions

Currently, the Charter states that no person can be elected to a Council or the Mayor’s office for more than two consecutive terms. However, Charter Section 300 allows a person appointed to fill a vacant seat for a period of two years or less to seek nomination and election for two full four-year terms to begin immediately after the appointed term ends. Under the proposed amendment, a person who completes an appointed term may only seek election to the office after a one-year waiting period ends. A person who fills a vacant seat by election will not be subject to the proposed one-year waiting period.

A vote in favor of the measure will result in implementation of the proposed amendment. A “No” vote will result in no change to the ability of an appointed office holder to seek nomination and election to the same office at the end of the appointed term. The measure requires a majority vote to pass. There is no fiscal impact associated with this measure.

City of Chula Vista

The power of incumbency is overwhelming in Chula Vista. Earlier this year one of the incumbents running in this election decided to hold a neighborhood meeting. The City mailed out 5,242 postcards with the incumbent’s name on it to announce the meeting, at a cost to taxpayers of $2,845. About fifty people showed up for the meeting, but the city postcard with the incumbent’s name on it went into 5,242 homes at no cost to the incumbent candidate. Such is the power of incumbency.

The last time an incumbent Chula Vista council member lost a bid for re-election was in 1968! As far as we know, someone APPOINTED to a Council seat has NEVER lost a subsequent run for election. That is why Proposition G is so important. The people to be governed should elect their representatives. They should not be appointed by sitting council members, then allowed to run as though they were an elected incumbent.

Please vote YES on Proposition G.

PETER J. WATRY, JR.
GERALD D. SCOTT
NORMA A. CAZARES
PATRICIA AGUILAR
SANDRA K. DUNCAN

(No arguments against Proposition G were submitted)

Section 300.D. No person shall be eligible for nomination and election to the office of City Councilmember or Mayor for more than two (2) consecutive terms, and no person who has held a Council office for a period of two (2) consecutive terms or the office of Mayor for two (2) consecutive terms, may again seek nomination and election to said offices of Council or Mayor respectively until a period of one (1) year from the termination of the second term for Councilmember or Mayor has elapsed; provided, however, that any person who is appointed by the Council to fill the office of Council or Mayor or elected in a special election for the balance of a regular term of Mayor and/or Council for a period of two (2) years or less may seek nomination and election for two (2) full terms thereafter.

TEXT OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT:

Section 300.D. No person shall be eligible for nomination and election to the office of City Councilmember or Mayor for more than two (2) consecutive terms, and no person who has held a Council office for a period of two (2) consecutive terms or the office of Mayor for two (2) consecutive terms, may again seek nomination and election to said offices of Council or Mayor respectively until a period of one (1) year from the termination of the second term for Councilmember or Mayor has elapsed; provided, however, that any person who is appointed by the Council to fill the office of Council or Mayor may not seek nomination and election to said offices of Council or Mayor until a period of one year from the termination of the appointed term has elapsed. Said appointee shall be eligible to seek nomination and election for two (2) full terms thereafter. Any person elected in a special election for the balance of a regular term of Mayor and/or Council for a period of two (2) years or less may seek nomination and election for two (2) full terms thereafter.