Fullerton, California, City Council Districts, Measure II (November 2016)
| Measure II: Fullerton City Council Districts |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Approved
|
| Topic: |
| Local election and voting laws |
| Related articles |
| Local election and voting laws on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Orange County, California ballot measures |
| See also |
| Fullerton, California |
A measure establishing city council voting districts was on the ballot for Fullerton voters in Orange County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of establishing five districts from which city council members elected. |
| A no vote was a vote against establishing districts from which city council members are elected, thus leaving the city-wide at-large election system intact. |
Election results
| Measure II | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 23,725 | 54.12% | ||
| No | 20,110 | 45.88% | ||
- Election results from Orange County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
Shall members of the legislative body of the City of Fullerton be elected by districts described in Ordinance No. 3230?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Fullerton City Attorney:
| “ |
This measure seeks voter approval of Ordinance 3230, which would amend the City’s method and manner of election of members to the Fullerton City Council commencing with the election in November 2018 election. The City of Fullerton, as a general law city, currently has five City Council members elected by all City voters (at large) to terms of four years each, staggered so that three are elected in one election year and two are elected in the next. The Mayor is selected annually by members of the City Council. The proposed measure was placed on the ballot by the City Council as part of a settlement agreement with plaintiffs who asserted that Fullerton’s current at-large system violated the California Voting Rights Act. The Measure would change this system to “district-based elections,” a method of electing members to the City Council by districts. A candidate must reside within an election district and is elected only by voters residing within that district. Under the proposed ordinance, the City would be divided into five geographic districts, as shown on the attached map, equal in population according to the latest federal decennial census. All Council Members would be chosen by this district method for four-year terms. The Mayor would continue to be selected by the City Council as is done now. Elections would continue to be staggered so that every two years, there would be a Council Member election, with two Council Member seats up for election at one election (commencing in November 2018) and three Council Member seats up for election at the next election (commencing in November 2020). Current council members would continue to serve until they are replaced at the end of their current terms of office. The measure includes a map of the initial district boundaries selected after an extensive public process. After the initial establishment of the districts, the district boundaries would be modified, if necessary, every ten years so that each district continues to be as nearly equal in population as may be according to the latest federal decennial census. A “yes” vote on this measure would approve Ordinance No. 3230, which changes the current city-wide at-large election system to a district election system, allowing the creation of five districts, from which one council member would be elected by voters of each district, commencing with the November 2018 election. A “no” vote on this measure would leave in place the current at large system for electing all five Council Members, elected by all voters city-wide, for staggered terms of four years each, with the Mayor selected by the council. THE ABOVE STATEMENT IS AN IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURE II. IF YOU DESIRE A COPY OF THE MEASURE OR OF ORDINANCE 3230, PLEASE CALL THE CITY CLERK’S OFFICE AT (714) 738-6355, AND A COPY WILL BE MAILED AT NO COST TO YOU.[2] |
” |
| —Fullerton City Attorney[1] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of the measure:[1]
- Jennifer Fitzgerald, Mayor, City of Fullerton
- Jeremy Popoff, Fullerton Resident and Business Owner
- Sam Han, Fullerton Resident
- Joe Lins, President, Fullerton Century 21 Discovery and Fullerton Resident
- Mike Mendoza, Fullerton Resident and Business Owner
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
| “ |
Fullerton is a great city with a small town feel and no matter what laws change in our community, we must work together to ensure that Fullerton always remains a special place. Recent changes in California state law dictate that the city of Fullerton will no longer be able to elect its city council members by a city-wide vote. Instead, starting in 2018, voters will only be able to vote for one council member who lives in their respective voting district. Fullerton will be divided into five voting districts and the map of those recommended districts is attached. The City Council felt that changing our election system required a strong community process. The recommended map contained in this measure came about after extensive public education and involvement of community members across the spectrum of our city at community meetings, through on-line engagement and at public hearings. In June of this year, the recommended map was unanimously approved by the Fullerton City Council. Fullerton is a City with amazing history and a big heart. The proposed map respects our communities of interest and gives all Fullerton citizens a common voice in representation of our unique historic downtown, the heart of our community. Our downtown is our natural meeting place. Whether it is First Night, the Thursday Night Market or the Veterans Day Parade, downtown is at the center of it all. We recognize not everyone is happy with having council districts or with this specific map. But after much community engagement, a unified city council joined together in support of this plan. Please join us in moving forward with community pride for an even better Fullerton. We urge you to vote “Yes” on Measure II.[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- Jane Rands, Author Map 10 A
- Ryan Cantor, Map 7 Author
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
| “ |
Voters should vote No on Measure II because the five districts included in the ballot measure will fracture and divide our city. The measure’s district boundaries cut up our community to prevent neighbors from electing a representative of their choosing while protecting the council members elected under the current system. It’s gerrymandering at its worst. Measure II divides our downtown community into five separate districts, making it impossible for roughly 26,000 Fullerton residents to elect a city council member to represent the unique and challenging problems affecting their homes. Not allowing downtown residents a voice to speak out against the increasing negative impacts on their neighborhoods from downtown bars and overdevelopment is a mistake Fullerton can’t afford. Measure II also splits the Rolling Hills neighborhood into two while it combines other neighborhoods that are not the least bit similar. Historic downtown houses on Whiting are crammed into a district with the Amerige Heights community. Renters in the high rise apartments on Santa Fe are jammed into a district with residents west of Buena Park High School. People who live east of Craig Park are lumped into a district with renters at Commonwealth and Lemon. These grotesque distortions of geography are disrespectful of the communities and neighborhoods of Fullerton. By-District Elections could have been used to improve representation for all residents of Fullerton. But instead of creating an opportunity for a greater range of Fullerton voices to be heard, the boundaries devised by a downtown bar owner will serve only a limited set of political interests that are very different from yours. Vote no on Measure II. Don’t let special interests determine Fullerton’s future. [2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Fullerton, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Fullerton Local elections and voting laws. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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