One would think that a ballot measure dramatically changing the way Los Angeles County functions by boosting the number of board members from five to nine and requiring the election of the county’s chief executive would be getting tons of attention.
That has not been the case, at least not so far.
A “Yes on Measure G” campaign has launched, said campaign spokesperson Zahra Hajee on Sept. 19, who pointed to a bare bones website that summarizes the complex initiative’s major points as proof. The campaign promises to hold press events starting when ballots hit voters’ mailboxes — 29 days before the Nov. 5 election, she said.
In fact, most pundits and even supporters don’t expect voters to hear about this measure much because it’s very expensive to send campaign mailers to 5.8 million registered voters, said the Measure G chief author, Third District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.
She expects mailers will be sent to certain target groups instead. The Yes on G – Communities United Action Fund has raised a total of $75,000 as of Sept. 17: $50,000 from Jihee Huh of Rolling Hills and $25,000 from Carol Choi of Irvine, according to records. It could take millions of dollars to run even a rudimentary campaign.
“It’s a crowded ballot. The problem with trying to change the county government is very expensive,” Horvath said.
Horvath said the supervisors placed the initiative on the ballot by their own vote, saving a private group the trouble and cost of acquiring signatures. The vote was 3-2. Horvath and Supervisors Janice Hahn and Hilda Solis voted in favor, while Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Kathryn Barger were opposed.
Joel Kotkin, conservative pundit and professor of urban studies at Chapman University in Orange County, said he hadn’t heard much at all about the measure, though he said he focuses more on state and federal elections.
Joel Fox, an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University Graduate School of Public Policy said he hopes Fernando Guerra, professor at Loyola Marymount University and author of the “yes” ballot argument, will put together a debate.
Fox said whatever amount the campaign raises, that may be an advantage because so far there appears to be no organized “no” campaign, aside from the two county supervisors who are opposed. “It’s a real important policy debate. You might see some news coverage,” Fox said. “But no, I don’t think we’ll see a huge campaign.”
What is Measure G?
Here’s a breakdown of the measure’s major points:
• Raises the number of county supervisors from five to nine.
• The county CEO, now appointed by the board, would be elected.
• Creates other positions needed to facilitate budgeting and ethics reform: an ethics compliance officer, a director of budget and management, and a county legislative analyst. Costs and salaries for these positions are not specified in the measure.
• Department heads would present each of their budgets for public review, as opposed to just a single review of the entire budget. The county’s budget is about $46 billion. The public would be given five days notice of any proposed board motion.
• Any former politician would be banned from lobbying the county for the first two years after leaving office. Also, it authorizes suspension of county politicians who are criminally charged with a felony.
