Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Chula Vista considers all-mail voting

City council seat appointment in January bites city in seat

Chula Vista's Charter Review Commission (Robert Ross, far left)
Chula Vista's Charter Review Commission (Robert Ross, far left)

Chula Vista opted for democracy-on-the-cheap last January when they filled a council vacancy through appointment rather than special election.

Mary Casillas
Steve Miesen
Chris Shilling

Then, shortly after Steve Miesen was appointed to mayor Mary Casillas Salas's open seat, Chris Shilling, chairman of the Ethics Board, joined by California Coast Law and San Diegans for Open Government, filed a suit against the city for Brown Act violations during the appointment process. The suit has cost the city more than $100,000 and the meter is still running A demurrer hearing is scheduled for November 13.

Sponsored
Sponsored

On November 2, the Charter Review Commission voted 6-1 to propose new charter language that would give the city council the option to exclusively use mail-in ballots should a mayor or council member seat be prematurely vacated with more than 12 months but less than 25 months remaining in the term.

Commissioner Robert Ross brought forward the motion. Ross worked with the city clerk to come up with cost estimates for special elections that are not held in the June primary or the November general elections.

If a council seat were unexpectedly vacated and the city needed to hold a special election, Ross calculated that the average cost, relying on traditional polling places, would be $325,000. However, a vote-by-mail election would cost $205,000; this calculation is for one district with five candidates and would save the city $120,000. The cost would be higher to replace a mayor because it would involve all four districts.

Ross explained to commissioners: “If there is a vacancy within the first couple of years, the council must hold an election…but the reason why I brought it up was I thought about what happened recently. It was a vacancy, the city council didn’t want to hold an election because of the cost, so I started to get information to see whether the cost would be low enough so that in the future the city council might consider an election rather than an appointment because I personally think that having an elected city council member is better than having an appointed one.”

The commission’s agenda stated the action item would consider “all-mail balloting for City Council Elections,” not just special elections. During the discussion Ross asked the commissioners, “Do you want to do that only for special elections or do you want to do it for regular elections as well?”

Commissioner Tom O’Donnell stated, “I personally feel it’s important to have people get out and go to the polls — it’s important to keep the polls open.” O’Donnell was the lone vote against the resolution.

Assistant city attorney Jill Maland informed the commissioners that recent state legislation lays the groundwork for more mail-in ballot elections. Several members concurred that mail-in was “the trend.” Several also averred that voting is a right, not a privilege.

Curiously, there was limited discussion about any problems inherent with mail-in ballots. One example of a potential problem was in the 2014 victory of council member John McCann over former mayor Steve Padilla. McCann won by 2 votes and the vote was challenged in court. The challenge, which ultimately was resolved in McCann’s favor, involved 15 uncounted provisional and mail-in ballots.

Accord to a 2012 New York Times article, “Nationwide, the use of absentee ballots and other forms of voting by mail has more than tripled since 1980 and now accounts for almost 20 percent of all votes. Yet votes cast by mail are less likely to be counted, more likely to be compromised and more likely to be contested than those cast in a voting booth, statistics show. Election officials reject almost 2 percent of ballots cast by mail, double the rate for in-person voting.”

This charter change is still in the early stages. According to assistant attorney Maland: “We will present the proposed language to the commission for consideration. If a majority of the commission votes to recommend the amendment to the city council, it will then be presented to the city council for consideration. If a majority of the council votes to place it on the ballot, it would then go to the voters for consideration. If approved by the voters, the charter would be amended, accordingly.”

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

How to Get Legal Assistance When Your Car Accident Insurance Claim is Denied?

Next Article

Didja know I did the first American feature on Jimi Hendrix?

Richard Meltzer goes through the Germs, Blue Oyster Cult, Ray Charles, Elvis, Lavender Hill Mob
Chula Vista's Charter Review Commission (Robert Ross, far left)
Chula Vista's Charter Review Commission (Robert Ross, far left)

Chula Vista opted for democracy-on-the-cheap last January when they filled a council vacancy through appointment rather than special election.

Mary Casillas
Steve Miesen
Chris Shilling

Then, shortly after Steve Miesen was appointed to mayor Mary Casillas Salas's open seat, Chris Shilling, chairman of the Ethics Board, joined by California Coast Law and San Diegans for Open Government, filed a suit against the city for Brown Act violations during the appointment process. The suit has cost the city more than $100,000 and the meter is still running A demurrer hearing is scheduled for November 13.

Sponsored
Sponsored

On November 2, the Charter Review Commission voted 6-1 to propose new charter language that would give the city council the option to exclusively use mail-in ballots should a mayor or council member seat be prematurely vacated with more than 12 months but less than 25 months remaining in the term.

Commissioner Robert Ross brought forward the motion. Ross worked with the city clerk to come up with cost estimates for special elections that are not held in the June primary or the November general elections.

If a council seat were unexpectedly vacated and the city needed to hold a special election, Ross calculated that the average cost, relying on traditional polling places, would be $325,000. However, a vote-by-mail election would cost $205,000; this calculation is for one district with five candidates and would save the city $120,000. The cost would be higher to replace a mayor because it would involve all four districts.

Ross explained to commissioners: “If there is a vacancy within the first couple of years, the council must hold an election…but the reason why I brought it up was I thought about what happened recently. It was a vacancy, the city council didn’t want to hold an election because of the cost, so I started to get information to see whether the cost would be low enough so that in the future the city council might consider an election rather than an appointment because I personally think that having an elected city council member is better than having an appointed one.”

The commission’s agenda stated the action item would consider “all-mail balloting for City Council Elections,” not just special elections. During the discussion Ross asked the commissioners, “Do you want to do that only for special elections or do you want to do it for regular elections as well?”

Commissioner Tom O’Donnell stated, “I personally feel it’s important to have people get out and go to the polls — it’s important to keep the polls open.” O’Donnell was the lone vote against the resolution.

Assistant city attorney Jill Maland informed the commissioners that recent state legislation lays the groundwork for more mail-in ballot elections. Several members concurred that mail-in was “the trend.” Several also averred that voting is a right, not a privilege.

Curiously, there was limited discussion about any problems inherent with mail-in ballots. One example of a potential problem was in the 2014 victory of council member John McCann over former mayor Steve Padilla. McCann won by 2 votes and the vote was challenged in court. The challenge, which ultimately was resolved in McCann’s favor, involved 15 uncounted provisional and mail-in ballots.

Accord to a 2012 New York Times article, “Nationwide, the use of absentee ballots and other forms of voting by mail has more than tripled since 1980 and now accounts for almost 20 percent of all votes. Yet votes cast by mail are less likely to be counted, more likely to be compromised and more likely to be contested than those cast in a voting booth, statistics show. Election officials reject almost 2 percent of ballots cast by mail, double the rate for in-person voting.”

This charter change is still in the early stages. According to assistant attorney Maland: “We will present the proposed language to the commission for consideration. If a majority of the commission votes to recommend the amendment to the city council, it will then be presented to the city council for consideration. If a majority of the council votes to place it on the ballot, it would then go to the voters for consideration. If approved by the voters, the charter would be amended, accordingly.”

Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Melissa Etheridge, The Imaginary Amazon

Events April 1-April 3, 2024
Next Article

Nation’s sexy soldiers stage protest at Pendleton in wake of change in Marine uniform policy

Semper WHY?
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.