Pass: 11,237 / 71.35% Yes votes ...... 4,512 / 28.65% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

     NO

Sunnyvale Charter Section 605 now provides that the Mayor is selected by the Council for a one-year term at the same meeting the City Council certifies the municipal election results (the second meeting in November or the first meeting in December), or at the second regular meeting in November in non-election years.

The proposed Charter Amendment will change the one-year term for the Mayor to a two-year term. The certification of election results and the selection of the Mayor will take place at the first regular meeting in January 2008 and at the first regular meeting in January every two years thereafter.

Sunnyvale Charter Section 606 now provides that the Vice-Mayor is selected by the Council for a one-year term at the same meeting the City Council certifies the municipal election results (the second meeting in November or the first meeting in December) or at the second regular meeting in November in non-election years.

The Proposed Charter Amendment does not change the term of the Vice-Mayor, which will continue to be one year. The certification of election results and the selection of the Vice-Mayor will take place at the first regular meeting in January 2008 and at the first regular meeting in January every year thereafter.

A "Yes" vote is a vote to amend Sunnyvale City Charter Sections 605 and 606 to provide for a two-year term for the Mayor, to continue the one-year term for the Vice-Mayor, and to select the Mayor and Vice-Mayor at the first meeting in January at the time election results are certified.

A "No" vote is a vote not to amend Sunnyvale City Charter Sections 605 and 606.

You may access the full text of the measure on the City's website at the following website address: http://www.BallotMeasures.inSunnyvale.com.

/s/ David Kahn
    City Attorney

The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure H. If you desire a copy of the measure, please call the elections official's office: Office of the City Clerk, telephone (408) 730-7483, located at 603 All America Way, Sunnyvale, California and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.

Sunnyvale City Charter and Muncipal Code

Sunnyvale Times

Experience Matters! The Mayor of Sunnyvale is selected by a majority of the members of the City Council for a term of only one year. The position of Mayor is rotated annually among councilmembers.

The Mayor of Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County's second largest city, should be more than a ceremonial leader. The stability and continuity of our city's political leadership is compromised when each Sunnyvale Mayor serves only one year.

It has not always been this way. Two Sunnyvale mayors each successfully served a two-year term between 1987 and 1991. Regrettably, Sunnyvale returned to a one-year rotating mayor for self-serving political reasons so that every councilmember would have their "turn" as Mayor of our City.

Good councilmembers don't necessarily make good mayors. Regional cooperation among the County's 15 cities is critical in our metropolitan area. Rotating our Mayor each year puts Sunnyvale at a tactical disadvantage in addressing important regional issues with Mayors from Santa Clara, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, Gilroy and San Jose; all led by Mayors serving more than one year.

Measure H will not change our Mayor's explicit responsibilities, authority or method of selection. It will only change the length of the Mayor's term from one year to two years.

Sunnyvale's Mayor should not be selected on the basis of whose "turn" it is to serve. Measure H will ensure that our Mayor will be selected only on the basis of his/her qualifications, experience, vision for our City, and the ability to lead on the issues most important to our 130,000 residents. Talent should be the only qualification.

Vote YES on Measure H

/s/ Lawrence E. Stone
    Former Mayor, City of Sunnyvale & Charter Review Committee Member

/s/ Dianne McKenna
    Former Mayor of Sunnyvale & Chair, Charter Review Committee

/s/ Patricia E. Castillo
    Former Mayor, City of Sunnyvale & Charter Review Committee Member

/s/ Howard Chuck
    Parks & Recreation Commissioner 2004-2008 & Charter Review Committee & Heritage Park Museum Board

/s/ Laura J. Babcock
    Vice Chair, Charter Review Committee

If Measure H carries, the City Charter of the City of Sunnyvale, shall be amended by amending Sections 605 and 606, of Article VI (The Council), to read as follows:

Section 605. Presiding Officer. Mayor. At the same meeting first regular meeting in January, at which the City Council shall certify the election results, following each General Municipal Election at which the City Council certifies the election results, or the second regular meeting in November, and at the first regular meeting in January every two years thereafter, the City Council shall select one of its members as its presiding officer, who shall have the Title of Mayor. Such selection shall be by motion of the City Council. The Mayor shall have a voice and vote in all its proceedings. He/she shall be the official head of the City for all ceremonial purposes. He/she shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter or as may be imposed by the City Council consistent with his/her office. The Mayor shall serve in such capacity for a term of one year two (2) years from and after which the appointment is made, and until a successor is selected; provided, that a person can continue to serve in the capacity of Mayor only while that person remains as a member of the City Council. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Mayor, the City Council shall select one of its members to serve as Mayor for the remainder of the unexpired term.

The Mayor may be removed from such office prior to expiration of his/her term by a motion of the City Council adopted by the affirmative votes of at least five members of the City Council.

Section 606. Vice Mayor. At the same meeting following each General Municipal Election at which the City Council certifies the election results, or the second regular meeting in November in even-numbered years, first regular meeting in January, at which the City Council shall certify the election results, following each General Municipal Election, and the first regular meeting in January in odd-numbered years, the City Council shall also designate one of its members as Vice Mayor. The Vice Mayor shall perform the duties of the Mayor during his/her absence or disability.