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Contra Costa County, CA November 5, 2013 Election
Measure E
Change Mayoral Election to Even-numbered Years
City of San Ramon

Majority Approval Required

Pass: 6578 / 81.35% Yes votes ...... 1508 / 18.65% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Jan 15 5:14pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (24/24)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Full Text

Shall Article III of the City of San Ramon Charter be amended to: a) change the mayoral election date from odd-numbered years to the date of the statewide general election during even-numbered years; and b) extend by one year the term of the Mayor elected in 2013 to accommodate the election date change; and c) extend the cumulative total number of years the mayor elected in 2013 may serve from eight to nine years? (Saves approximately $142,000 per election.)

Impartial Analysis from the Interim City Attorney
This measure is a Council initiated Charter amendment submitted to the voters by the San Ramon City Council under authority of Elections Code section 9255(b)(1).

Under Article III of the City Charter the Mayor is elected every two years at the general municipal election currently conducted during November of odd-numbered years. Article III also prohibits any elected Mayor from serving more than a total of eight years.

A significant portion of election costs are shared by all public entities with candidates or measures on the same ballot. Federal, state and often county elections as well as elections conducted by the many special districts whose geographical territory is within the City of San Ramon are held in November of even-numbered years. Because of the cost sharing basis for determining election costs there would be a savings of approximately $142,000 per election if the general municipal election were moved from November of odd-numbered years to November of even-numbered years.

This Charter amendment requires that the Mayor be elected at the general municipal election conducted on the date of the statewide general election in November of even-numbered years. In order to accommodate changing the election date, the proposed amendment lengthens the term of the Mayor elected in 2013 by one year and extends the cumulative total number of years an elected Mayor may serve from eight to nine years if one of the Mayor's terms was increased as the result of changing the general municipal election date. The Charter amendment will not go into effect unless the measure amending the Municipal Code by changing the date of the general municipal election to November of even-numbered years is also approved at the election on November 5, 2013.

A "yes" vote is a vote to amend the Charter thereby (a) requiring that the Mayor be elected at a general municipal election in November of even-numbered years, (b) lengthening the term of the Mayor elected in 2013 by one year to accommodate changing the election date and (c) allowing any Mayor whose term was extended as the result of changing the election date to serve a cumulative total of nine rather than eight years.

A "no" vote is a vote against the Charter amendment thereby continuing to elect the Mayor at the general municipal election conducted in November of odd-numbered years.

Bob Saxe

Interim City Attorney

 
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Arguments For Measure E Arguments Against Measure E
The second ballot item is a companion to the first measure. To move to even year elections with the voter's approval, the City Charter's language requires that the voters also approve aligning the Mayor's term with the city council. Consequently, both ballot measures must be approved by the voters to allow the city election to move to even years.

Currently, the City Charter only allows for two-year terms for the Mayor. This measure will allow a one-time exception, for one three-year term and allow the total number of years the Mayor can serve to increase from eight years to nine years.

The change to even year elections will dramatically increase voter participation and it will also save the city approximately $142,000 during each election cycle.

Please vote YES on Measure "E".

Louis I. Dagen, Donna R. Kerger, Eric G. Wallis, David Ernest, Shirley Ernest

None filed.

Full Text of Measure E
ARTICLE III

Election of Mayor

The Mayor shall be elected by plurality every two years at the general municipal election conducted during even-numbered years. The term of the Mayor elected in 2013 shall be lengthened by one year to accommodate changing the date of the general municipal election from odd-numbered to even-numbered years. No elected Mayor shall serve for more than four two year terms except that a cumulative total of nine years may be served if one of those terms was lengthened as the result of changing the date of the general municipal election. Duties of the elected Mayor shall remain the same as the duties of the Mayor as of January 1, 2001. Compensation for the elected Mayor of San Ramon shall be one hundred dollars per month more than a Councilmember. This Charter amendment shall not be effective unless the measure on the November 5, 2013 ballot changing the date of the general municipal election to even-numbered years is approved by the voters.


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