Orange County Supervisor Vacancy Charter Amendment, Measure G (November 2014)

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An Orange County Supervisor Vacancy Charter Amendment, Measure G ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in Orange County, California. It was approved.

Upon approval, Measure G changed the way a supervisor vacancy is filled in the fourth and final year of a county supervisor term. It established the process for filling vacancies laid out below in the impartial analysis. Measure G also removed the outdated reference to a March state primary, since California's statewide primary now takes place in June.

Supporters said this measure made the election process more fair and responsive to the voters by not allowing candidates that have lost elections to become Orange County Supervisors after being rejected by voters and by keeping supervisors from giving their favorite candidate an unfair advantage before the next election in the event of a vacancy.

Election results

Orange County, Measure G
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		377,106	70.60%
No		157,394	29.40%

Election results via: Orange County Registrar of Voters

Text of measure

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis was prepared for this measure:

“	California law permits the voters to amend the County Charter if a majority of the voters voting in an election approve the amendment. This measure, placed on the ballot by the Board of Supervisors for the County of Orange, would amend the Orange County Charter. In March 2002, voters approved a measure changing Orange County from a general law county to a charter county in the way vacancies are filled on the Board of Supervisors. Under the existing Charter, if a vacancy occurs in the fourth and final year of a Supervisor’s term of office, the vacancy is filled by the person receiving the highest number of votes in the Supervisor’s district in the March primary election that year. The person filling the vacancy would not need to receive a majority of the votes. This measure would remove the Charter’s reference to a March primary, because California law has been changed so that the statewide primary is held in June in each even numbered year. This measure would also change how vacancies that occur in the final year of a Supervisor’s term of office are filled. If, at the time the vacancy occurs, the remaining term of office is less than a year, but greater than six months, the vacancy shall be filled by any person receiving a majority of the votes in the primary election that year for that office. If that person does not assume the office, or if no person receives a majority of votes cast for that office in the primary election, then the Board of Supervisors can fill the vacancy by either calling a special election or by appointing a person to fill the vacancy, provided that the Board of Supervisors may not appoint a person who has filed nomination documents as a candidate for that office for the next term in the November general election. If, at the time the vacancy occurs, the remaining term of office is 180 days or less, then the office will be filled by the person receiving the highest number of votes cast for Supervisor in that district after the Board declares the results of the November general election. Until then, the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors shall appoint such personnel as necessary to address the needs of the residents of the district. Future changes to the County Charter, including this measure if adopted, must be submitted to the voters for approval. A “yes” vote is a vote to amend the Charter of the County of Orange to change the method for filling vacancies on the Board of Supervisors occurring in the final year of a Supervisor’s term. A “no” vote is a vote not to amend the Charter of the County of Orange.	”
—Orange County Counsel

Full text

The full text of the measure is available here.

Support

Supporters

The following individuals signed the official arguments in favor of this measure:

• Todd Spitzer, Orange County Supervisor for the third district
• Michelle Steel, Board of Equalization Member Candidate for Orange County Supervisor for the second district
• Lisa Bartlett, mayor and businesswoman and candidate for Orange County Supervisor for the fifth district
• Robert Ming, Orange County businessman and councilmember and candidate for Orange County Supervisor for the fifth district

The Republican Party of Orange County also endorsed a "yes" vote on Measure G.

Arguments in favor

The following was submitted as the official arguments in favor of this measure:

“	Measure G protects the integrity of your vote by fixing two loopholes in the Orange County Charter. The principles of Measure G are simple: Election losers should not become Orange County Supervisors after the voters rejected them When making an interim appointment for Orange County Supervisor, the Board of Supervisors should pick a temporary caretaker, not give their favorite candidate an unfair advantage before the election If a Supervisor’s seat becomes vacant in the final year of the term, the Orange County Charter enables the primary election to determine who fills this seat. However, due to a drafting error in the Orange County Charter, a person could lose the November election for Orange County Supervisor but still become Supervisor for two months. No one should be allowed to become a Supervisor after the voters rejected that person in the election. Measure G fixes this, so only an election winner can become a Supervisor. The current Orange County Charter requires the Board of Supervisors to make an interim appointment for certain vacancies for Supervisor. However, that provision allows the Board of Supervisors to exercise undue influence over the November election by appointing one of the Supervisor candidates, giving the appointee an unfair incumbency advantage in the election. Measure G fixes this by prohibiting the Board of Supervisors from appointing their favorite candidate before the voters have a chance to cast their election ballots. Measure G only allows the Board of Supervisors to pick a caretaker (who is not a candidate for Supervisor) to fill the vacancy, so the voters will elect the permanent replacement. Measure G ensures that no candidate for Orange County Supervisor can gain an unfair incumbency advantage before the November election solely from having three cronies on the Board of Supervisors. Vote “Yes” on Measure G to protect your right to elect your own Orange County Supervisor. (quote)	”
—Todd Spitzer, Michelle Steel, Lisa Bartlett and Robert Ming

Opposition

No official arguments were submitted in opposition to Measure G. If you have an argument you would like to see posted here, please email the Local Ballot Measures Project staff writer.

See also

• Local charter amendments on the ballot
• Local election and voting laws 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