Measure A

San Diego County Transparent, Accountable, Modern County Government Measure

Measure A would amend the San Diego County Charter to establish an Independent Ethics Commission, create the positions of Independent Budget Analyst and Independent Program Auditor, and allow for the confirmation of certain senior County leaders, and optional Board of Supervisors appointment of the Public Defender. It would also increase the Board of Supervisors term limits from two to three terms, require public disclosure of spending and performance data, clarify non-interference provisions, and update terminology and structure.

This measure requires approval by a majority of voters voting on the measure to pass.

Fiscal Impact: Fiscal impacts unknown.

Next San Diego County Measure: Measure B

See Endorsements for Measure A

Pro:

Supporters say to fight corruption and fraud, Measure A establishes an independent ethics commission to investigate misconduct, hold public officials accountable, strictly regulate lobbyists to reduce their influence and strengthen enforcement of campaign contribution limits. Unlike other large California counties, San Diego lacks an ethics commission to investigate allegations of misconduct. Measure A requires full and complete public disclosure of all county spending.

A YES vote on this measure means: you support making the proposed amendments to the San Diego County Charter.

Con:

Opponents say Measure A gives sitting San Diego County Supervisors a third term. 12 years in one seat instead of eight. 68% of San Diego County voters set a two-term limit in 2010 by citizen initiative, with more than 70,000 neighbors signing petitions by hand. They argue that Measure A does not create a limit, it weakens the one you wrote. Measure A is packed with deception. In order to trick voters into throwing out current term limits, politicians confuse voters by tossing in good stuff like an ethics commission, independent auditors, and fiscal transparency.

A NO vote on this measure means: you are against making the proposed amendments to the San Diego County Charter.

Proposal

If approved, Measure A would:

Increase County Supervisor's term limits from two terms to three terms or a maximum of 12 years, as opposed to the current maximum of eight years.
Require the Board to establish a procedure to review and confirm Chief Administrative Officer appointment of the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Deputy Chief Administrative Officers, Director of the Office of Emergency Services, Public Health Officer, and public defender.
Provides examples of permissible practices that county supervisors may engage in without violating the non-interference clause.
Update Charter to state that no county officer may influence the Director of Purchasing and Contracting for illegal personal gain or as prohibited by the Charter's Non-Interference Clause.
Change citizen advisory board to community advisory board and update appointment criteria.
Direct board to establish an ethics commission of seven commissioners to be confirmed by the board, one appointed by each county supervisor and two by county council.
Require the auditor and controller to post all county spending data to the county's website and order an annual independent financial and performance audit of county expenditures made available to the public.
Clarify that regulation of political activities does not prohibit activities allowed by law.
Update prohibition against nepotism by specifying degree of relation.
Update charter structure and terminology.

Source: Measure A Analysis

San Diego County Election Resources

Pro:

Con:

Proposal

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