Torrance, California, Measure Q, Appointed City Clerk (March 2020)

Torrance Measure Q
Election date March 3, 2020
Topic Local elections and campaigns
Status d Defeated
Type Referral	Origin Lawmakers
List of California measuresCalifornia Proposition 13 (March)California Proposition 14California Proposition 15California Proposition 16California Proposition 17California Proposition 18California Proposition 19California Proposition 20California Proposition 21California Proposition 22California Proposition 23California Proposition 24California Proposition 25Submit

A charter amendment to make the city clerk an appointed position was on the ballot for Torrance voters in Los Angeles County, California, on March 3, 2020. It was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported making the city clerk an appointed position instead of an elected one, with officeholder appointed by the city manager.

A "no" vote opposed making the city clerk an appointed position, thereby leaving it as an elected office.

Another question, Measure J, was put on the March 2020 ballot asking whether to make the city treasurer an appointed position as well.

A simple majority was required for the approval of Measure Q.

Election results

Torrance Measure Q
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		13,662	37.14%
No		23,122	62.86%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot question

The ballot question was as follows:

“

Shall the City Charter be amended to make the office of City Clerk appointive?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Torrance City Attorney:

“ Measure Q was placed on the ballot by the City Council. This Measure, if approved by the Torrance voters, would amend the City Charter to transition from an elected City Clerk to an appointed City Clerk. California law allows the City Clerk to be elected or appointed. A number of cities in California, however, have voted to transform the post into an appointive position to ensure that the persons discharging the duties of the office have the professional skills and experience necessary to competently and responsibly discharge the duties of the position. There were 382 appointed City Clerks and 101 elected City Clerks as of March 2019 according to the City Clerks Association of California. Torrance has historically had an elected City Clerk who serves a four-year term. The current City Clerk was elected in June 2018 and the term will in end in March 2022 or as soon thereafter as the election can be certified. The current City Charter requires that the City Clerk must be: (1) a resident of the City, (2) registered to vote in the City, and (3) at least 18 years old. There are no minimum educational requirements, professional qualifications, or minimum City Clerk experience. The City Clerk manages the City's official records, prepares City Council agendas, prepares meeting minutes, publishes and posts official notices, accepts service of claims, lawsuits, subpoenas, and official documents on behalf of the City, processes initiatives and referenda, attends City Council meetings, responds to Public Records Act requests, manages compliance with the State conflict of interest filings, and manages City elections. If this Measure is approved, the City Clerk will become an appointive position at the end of the current term. The Measure provides that the City Clerk will be appointed by the City Manager. The City Council may establish minimum educational requirements, professional qualifications, or minimum City Clerk experience for the City Clerk. An appointed City Clerk need not be a City resident. A YES vote on Measure Q is to make the City Clerk an appointive office upon expiration of the term of the current elected City Clerk. A NO vote on Measure Q is to retain an elected City Clerk. A majority vote is required for the Measure to pass. ”

Full text

The full text of the measure is available here.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in California

This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the Torrance City Council.

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2020
• Local elections and campaigns on the ballot
• City governance on the ballot
• Los Angeles County measures

California

• March 3, 2020 measures in California
• Local ballot measures, California
• Torrance, California

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas

External links

Suggest a link

• Search Google News for this topic
• Los Angeles County Elections Office website