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DOCUMENTS
Judge’s Ruling: Method of Placing Strong Mayor Initiative on Ballot is “Unconstitutional”
On Thursday January 21st, Sacramento Superior Court Judge Loren McMaster issued his final decision on the legality of the so-called Strong Mayor Initiative, declaring it “unconstitutional.”
Vote No on the “Strong Mayor” Ballot Measure
Too Much Power. Silences Independent Review.
The Government Accountability and Charter Reform Measure – the “Strong Mayor Initiative” – will be placed on the City of Sacramento’s June, 2010 ballot.
The initiative makes drastic changes to the City Charter with no discernable benefit:
- Opens the Door to Corruption and Cronyism: Instead of protecting taxpayers, this measure opens the door to corruption and cronyism by giving the Mayor the power to replace valuable employees with family, friends, or campaign contributors.
The Mayor would have the power to hire and fire between 500-800 managers and supervisors, no matter what their record of performance has been or how long they have served our city. Police lieutenants, park supervisors, senior maintenance workers, and all supervising staff would be at risk of termination at the discretion of the Mayor.
In fact, the City Attorney says language of the measure actually gives the Mayor the power to hire and fire all 5,000 city employees.
- Eliminates Independent Review: One of the most dangerous provisions of this measure is that it wipes out independent review by giving the Mayor the power to hire and fire our City Attorney, City Clerk, Police and Fire Chiefs, and City Treasurer. The language of the initiative says these positions serve at the “pleasure of the Mayor.”
- Denies Voters Representative of their Choice in new 9th District: One of the most troubling elements of this initiative is that it creates a new City Council district, without specifying any details on how or when the boundaries will be created or an election will be held. A serious voting rights violation may exist because the measure says the Mayor will also serve as the 9th District Councilmember until an election is held. Voters will be denied the fundamental right to a representative of their choice for an undetermined period of time.