Grand Jury: Supervisors should fill vacancies with elections

posted by Barry Parr on Jun 24, 2009 at 12:33 pm in  Government
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The county civil grand jury has just issued a report chastising the Board of Supervisor for filling Jerry Hill’s old seat by appointing his replacement, rather than holding an election [pdf].

Democracy was suspended by the San Mateo Board of Supervisors in December 2008, due to an economic downturn. On November 4, 2008, a San Mateo County Supervisor for District 2 was elected to the California State Assembly. There were two years left on the Supervisor’s term. Three of the four supervisors decide that an estimated $1.6 million during the economically troubled time was too much to spend on an election and, therefore, made an appointment to fill the vacated seat. 

Noting that “Since 1980, in San Mateo County, incumbents seeking reelection have been reelected 100% of the time”, the Grand jury recommends that open seats should be filled by election, or if the seat will be up for election in less than a year, appointment of a provisional member prohibited from running for that seat in the next election.

 

Comments

Comment 1 by Barry Parr  on  Jun 24  at  12:36pm  •  All my comments • 

This could hardly be more timely. Yet another reason to rethink the way we elect the county Board of Supervisors.

If you agree, you should come to the meeting the Coastside Democrats are holding tonight on how to improve the election of Supervisors in San Mateo County.

Comment 2 by Bruce Balshone  on  Jun 24  at  4:06pm  •  All my comments • 

A few months ago when Supervisor Carole Groom was appointed by the Boar to fill a vacany for District 9, I wrote about this as well.

A Lack of democracy in San Mateo County
http://tinyurl.com/7apq3p

San Mateo County Government Boards lack diversity
http://tinyurl.com/8kuqry

 

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