Smart Voter

City of Millbrae; Measure F

This information is provided by the County Registrar


ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF OR IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED LAWS ARE THE OPINIONS
OF THE AUTHORS

CITY OF MILLBRAE

MEASURE F
"Shall the ordinance adopted by the City Council stating that no person shall
be eligible to serve as a member of the City Council for more than two
successive four-year terms be approved?"

IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURE F

Existing Law

Existing law does not contain any limits on the number of terms that a Millbrae
City Councilmember may serve in that office.

Operation of Measure

If passed by a majority of the voters, this measure would immediately put into
effect Ordinance No. 633 enacted by the City Council on March 11, 1997. This
ordinance establishes term limits for members of the Millbrae City Council as
more particularly described below. As prescribed in Government Code Section
36502, any term limit policy for councilmembers adopted by a city council of a
general law city, such as Millbrae, cannot take effect until it is approved by
a majority vote of the electors of the City passing on the question at a
regularly scheduled election.

Effect of the Measure

This measure, if approved, would establish a limit on the number of terms that
a person may serve as a member of the Millbrae City Council to two (2)
successive four-year terms. The measure further specifies that this two
successive four-year term limit does not include the balance of any unexpired
term that a Councilmember may serve as a result of an appointment or an
election to fill a vacancy on the Council.

The above statement is an impartial analysis of Ordinance No. 633. If you
desire a copy of the ordinance or measure, please call the elections official's
office at 259-2333 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.

Argument In Favor of Measure F

Measure F is intended to ensure that the City of Millbrae has a fresh influx of
new leadership on its City Council.  By limiting any council member to two
consecutive terms, it will ensure that a few individuals cannot dominate city
politics for decades at a time.  It will open up the political process to all
citizens and encourage talented people to run for office without having to
challenge entrenched incumbents.  It will bring fresh ideas and "new blood" to
the council.

By reducing the number of incumbents seeking office, the measure will result in
more closely contested city elections, thereby increasing voter interest and
participation.  No longer will voters sit home, assuming that their vote isn't
important since the same incumbents will be re-elected time after time.  It
will educate the public regarding city issues, and city government will
function better in light of the greater attention that it will receive.

This is a moderate measure that does not ban incumbents for life.  Rather,
after leaving office, any former member may run again, and, if elected, serve
two more consecutive terms before having to leave office once again.  Creating
a regular turnover on the council will encourage diversity and participation by
all of the people.

/s/ Mark M. Church
Vice Mayor

/s/ Denis E. Richardson
Councilman

/s/ Millie Bishop

/s/ Tom Dawdy

/s/ Rocco Lombardi   

NO ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE F SUBMITTED



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