Measure H: District rather than At-Large Elections

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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund

Monterey County, CA

November 3, 2009 Election

Measure H
District rather than At-Large Elections
Proposed Town of Carmel Valley
Majority Approval Required

Fail: 2,170 / 46.66% Yes votes ...... 2,481 / 53.34% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of November 19 5:59pm, 100.00%% of Precincts Reporting (7/7)

Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

Shall members of the Town Council of the Town of Carmel Valley in future elections be elected by district rather than at-large?

Impartial Analysis
A "yes" vote on this measure will authorize the Town Council of the Town of Carmel Valley to establish electoral districts for future elections of members of the Town Council. A "no" vote is a vote to continue to elect members of the Town Council at large in future elections. In order for this measure to pass, the voters must approve incorporation of the Town (Measure G), and the voters must also approve this measure by a simple majority of the voters voting on the measure.

On December 1, 2008, the Monterey County Local Agency Formation Commission adopted Resolution No. 08-27 making findings and determinations for the approval of the incorporation of the Town of Carmel Valley and its compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act, the determination of the Town's sphere of influence and boundaries, and requesting that the Monterey County Board of Supervisors set an election: a) to ratify the incorporation and b) to elect a Town Council pending the incorporation's ratification.

The Resolution provided that the first Town Council is to be elected at large on the same date as the vote on incorporation and that the incorporation ballot include a question permitting the voters to determine whether future elections of the Town Council shall be conducted under an at-large or by-district election system.

If this measure is approved by the voters, the Town Council shall establish electoral districts in accordance with law in a timely manner so that implementation may occur at the first municipal election held in November,
2012. At that time, the two members of the Town Council who received the lowest number of votes in the incorporation election shall hold office until the first municipal election by district is held in November of 2012 and the remaining three members shall hold office until the second municipal election held in November of 2014.

If this measure is not approved by the voters, members of the first Town Council shall hold office as provided by law. Following incorporation, members of the Town Council shall be elected at large from within the boundaries of the new Town. The three members of the Town Council who received the lowest number of votes in the incorporation election shall hold office until the first municipal election is held in November of 2012 and the remaining two members of the Town Council shall hold office until the second municipal election is held in November of 2014.

____________________________________ /s/ CHARLES J. McKEE County Counsel

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Arguments For Measure H Arguments Against Measure H

(No arguments in favor were submitted)

VOTE YES FOR MEASURE G TO KEEP CARMEL VALLEY RURAL AND SUPPORT LOCAL CONTROL, AND VOTE NO FOR MEASURE H TO KEEP FUTURE ELECTIONS AT-LARGE.
With the passage of Measure G, the first members of the Town Council will be elected At-Large. Election "At-Large" means that every voter votes for every member of the Town Council.
Measure H asks voters to consider shifting to a By-District election system. Election "By-District" means that only the voters who reside in an electoral district may vote for their Town Council representative. Voters are being asked to vote without knowing where district lines will be drawn or which incumbents will be affected. Decisions on the electoral structure of the new Town are important and should involve substantial public input.
92% of all California's cities, and 97% of California cities with populations under 40,000, operate under the At-Large system. Carmel Valley's population is only 12,000.
Under the preferable At-Large system (Vote NO on Measure H), all residents vote for ALL Council seats, and the top five vote-getters win. If Measure H passes, future voting will be By-District, and each voter will only vote for ONE Council seat representing the voter's home district.
At-Large is the right electoral system for a Town of Carmel Valley. VOTE NO ON MEASURE H.
/s/ Michael K. McMillan Business Man

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Created: December 29, 2009 12:06 PST
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