City of Anaheim Election By District Charter Amendment, Measure L (November 2014)

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A City of Anaheim Election By District Charter Amendment, Measure L ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the city of Anaheim in Orange County, California. It was approved.

Upon approval, Measure L amended the Anaheim City Charter to make council member positions to be elected by district rather than at-large, meaning the city was broken up into districts with voters from each district electing a council representative. The position of mayor remained an at-large position, meaning the whole city voted on the mayor.

Election results

Orange County, Measure L
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		30,873	68.8%
No		13,981	31.2%

Election results via: Orange County Registrar of Voters

Text of measure

Ballot question

The question on the ballot appeared as:

“

Shall City Charter Sections 500, 501 and 503 be amended and Section 500.1 be added to the Charter (i) requiring City Council member election from his/her residency district and only by registered voters of that district (but retaining Mayoral election from the City at large) and (ii) requiring the Council to establish districts and periodically adjust district boundaries, and (iii) making conforming amendments?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis was provided for Measure L:

“	This measure was placed on the ballot by a vote of the Anaheim City Council. Background/Existing Law: The City Charter currently states that City Council members (including the Mayor) are elected "at large." This means Council members can live anywhere in the City and are voted on by all City voters. City Ordinance No. 6280 states that beginning with the November 2016 City Council elections, Council members (but not the Mayor) will be elected from "residency districts." This means Council members (other than the Mayor) must live in geographic districts, but are voted on by all City voters. This Ordinance permits all City voters to vote for all Council seats that are up for election. Residency districts are considered an "at large" electoral system under state law. This Charter Amendment Measure: If approved, this proposed measure changes the method of electing Council members (but not the Mayor) from "at large" to "by districts." "By district" elections mean the City would be divided into geographic districts, Council members would have to live in the district they represent, and Council members would be elected only by voters living in that district. Only one Council member would be elected from each district. The Mayor would continue to be elected at large by all City voters. The measure amends other Charter provisions to conform eligibility and vacancy requirements to the proposed by district system. Effect of this Charter Amendment Measure: If approved, these amendments would take effect beginning with the November 2016 City Council elections and would require those Council seats up for election at that time to be elected by district. In November 2018, the remaining Council seats (but not the Mayor) would be elected by district. Only voters living in the respective district where a Council election is being held could vote for that Council seat. This measure requires that the City Council create the districts by no later than July 8, 2016 and requires that the districts comply with State and Federal laws, including that the districts be of approximately equal population. An agreement relating to settled litigation involving the City's "at large" electoral system requires an advisory committee made up of Anaheim voters to make recommendations to the City Council regarding district maps if the voters approve this proposed Charter Amendment measure. However, this agreement is not part of the proposed measure. This measure states that if a separate Charter Amendment measure increasing the City Council's size from four to six Council members (plus the Mayor) is approved by the voters at this election, then that measure increasing the Council's size shall be deemed complimentary with, and not in conflict with, this measure such that both measures take effect. A "Yes" vote is in favor of adopting this measure. A "No" vote is against adopting this measure. If a majority of voters vote "Yes" then this measure will take effect when it is filed with the Secretary of State.	”
—Michael R. W. Houston, Anaheim City Attorney

Support

Supporters

The following individuals signed the official arguments in support of Measure L:

• Tom Tait, mayor of Anaheim
• Jordan Brandman, Anaheim City Council Member

Arguments in favor

The following was submitted as the official arguments in favor of Measure L:

“	Anaheim is a great place to live, and a city we’re proud to represent. To keep it that way, we need a City Council that’s accountable to the people and elected to fight for you and your neighborhood at City Hall. That’s why we should vote YES on Measure L. Measure L requires that council members live in the district they represent and allows you to elect a council member from your neighborhood. Measure L is supported by leaders of Anaheim’s neighborhood groups, small businesses, and civic organizations. Why? Since 1857, Anaheim has grown from a small town of fewer than 1,000 people to a major metropolis of almost 350,000. It’s become a center of commerce, sports, and culture with needs and priorities as diverse as our neighborhoods. We must ensure you’re effectively represented and governed by council members reflecting all of our neighborhoods. In fact, Anaheim is the largest city in California that doesn’t elect council members by district. Yes on Measure L means smaller, manageable council districts, and a council member elected to represent you more effectively. Under Measure L, your council member’s job will be to make sure your neighborhood gets its fair share of city services, and its streets are clean, the potholes filled, the trees trimmed, and your voices heard at City Hall. This means better services for your community. Voting YES on Measure L: Ensures neighborhoods get their fair share of city services. Brings council members closer to their community, improving accountability. Allows council members to respond quickly and efficiently to their community’s needs, such as public safety and traffic. Reduces special interests influence at City Hall. Voting YES on Measure L keeps Anaheim a wonderful, safe place to live, and gives us the necessary tools to achieve our full potential.	”
—Tom Tait, mayor of Anaheim, and Jordan Brandman, Anaheim City Councilmember

Opposition

Opponents

The following individuals signed the official arguments in opposition to Measure L:

• Curt Pringle, former Mayor of Anaheim
• Shirley McCracken, former Anaheim Councilmember
• Todd Ament, president of the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce
• Mitch Caldwell, chair of the Anaheim Neighborhood Association
• Gloria Ma’ae, member of the Anaheim Citizens Advisory Commission

A campaign called One Anaheim was started to defeat Measure L.

Arguments against

The following was submitted as the official arguments in opposition to Measure L:

“	If you do only one thing in the election, VOTE NO on MEASURE L! Measure L divides Anaheim and reduces your council representation. As long-time civic and community leaders, we urge you to vote No: Measure L TAKES AWAY YOUR VOTING RIGHTS. Our current at-large election system gives every Anaheim voter a voice on every city council candidate. But Measure L restricts you to voting for only one City Council member. It reduces the number of council members representing your interests from 4 to 1. Instead of voting for candidates you support, Measure L limits your choices to candidates from a certain part of Anaheim. Measure L WAS FORCED ON ANAHEIM BY OUT OF TOWN SPECIAL INTERESTS AND TRIAL LAWYERS WHO SUED THE CITY, COSTING TAXPAYERS MILLIONS. The City Council put Measure L on the ballot to avoid spending more tax dollars against the ACLU lawsuit. The majority of your City Council members oppose Measure L and support our at-large system. Measure L REPLACES A SYSTEM THAT WORKS WELL FOR ANAHEIM WITH A SYSTEM USED IN BIG CITIES AND CONGRESS Anaheim’s at-large elections make each council member accountable to all voters, requiring them to govern for the whole city’s benefit, not just the part they live in. Measure L would replace this successful system with the by-district system used by dysfunctional big cities like Los Angeles and by Congress. MEASURE L DIVIDES ANAHEIM BY CLASS AND NEIGHBORHOOD Measure L carves Anaheim into districts and divides Anaheim by class and neighborhood. That’s wrong. We believe in ONE ANAHEIM, where all citizens have an equal vote and our city council is accountable to every voter. Measure L divides a great city. Vote against carving up Anaheim. Vote NO on Measure L.	”
—Curt Pringle, Shirley McCracken, Todd Ament, Mitch Caldwell and Gloria Ma’ae

See also

• Local elections and campaigns on the ballot
• Orange County, California ballot measures
• November 4, 2014 ballot measures in California

External links

Suggest a link

• Orange County Elections Office website
• Anaheim City Elections Office website

Additional reading

• Orange County Register, "Anaheim candidates sue over ballot arguments," August 1, 2014
• Los Angeles Times, "Anaheim voters to decide if council elections should be by district," January 8, 2014