Fail: 5804 / 43.4% Yes votes ...... 7554 / 56.6% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

This change, if approved, would make City general elections concurrent with state and federal general elections (such as those filling elected offices for the state assembly, the state senate, the Governor's office, Congressional offices, the United States Senate, and the President.)

In order to accomplish this change simply and consistent with apparent legal requirements, Measure A provides for a transition period to address the fact that existing City Council office terms now end concurrently with a City election held in odd-numbered years. The transition language provides for a one year extension of the existing terms for each of the seven City Council offices (the Mayor and six City Council members) so that the existing Council terms would end concurrently with an even-year November election. Specifically, Measure A provides that each of the Council offices to be filled in the November 2007 election (i.e., three City Council seats) will be given a one-time term of office for five years; thus, these three Council office terms would end at the end of 2012 and would be re-fi led in a City election held in November 2012. Further, the four City Council offices which were filled in the City's November 2005 election (the incumbent Mayor and three incumbent Council members) would have their existing terms extended from the current termination at the end of 2009 until the end of 2010; thus, these four Council offices would be refilled in a City election held in November 2010.

This transition to even-year November City elections would be complete with the election in November 2012; thereafter, all Mayor and Council office terms would be for the standard four year period as provided in the City charter.

If Measure A is approved in November 2007, there will be no regular City election in 2008 or 2009.

The City received a written statement from the Santa Barbara County Elections office that the continued cost to conduct City elections in odd-numbered years will be between $500,000 and $600,000. The County also indicated that if City elections, as proposed in this Charter Amendment, are shifted to even-numbered years the cost will be between $30,000 and $60,000. Thus, this change could result in savings of between $440,000 and $570,000 each election cycle.

These savings are achieved by the economies of scale created with the consolidation of City elections with several public entities who currently conduct their elections in even-numbered year.

Yes on Measure A Committee

City Taxpayers Save Well Over $1 Million After 10 Years

A YES vote will save City taxpayers $245,000 each election. When City elections are consolidated with County, State, and Federal elections, the City typically would need to spend just $35,000 per election, saving 87% of the $280,000 cost of running a separate election. After only 10 years, savings will be MORE THAN $1 MILLION to become available for important City budget needs.

Voter Turnout Increases Significantly

For the past 12 years, even-year elections have averaged 29% higher voter turnout. When not including 2005 where state Propositions were also on the ballot, the average is 34% higher turnout.

Elections since 1995 Voter Turnout EVEN-YEARS 66.8% ODD-YEARS 37.8%

People are more enthusiastic about voting when State and Federal issues are also on the ballot. Increasing voter turnout is good for Santa Barbara and will provide a more representative government for all.

Convenient and Efficient Elections

Imagine a year without the repetitive ads and junk mail of an election. Measure A will give a year off to Santa Barbara voters, making elections more convenient and efficient because voting only happens every two years.

Conclusion

Measure A would take effect in 2010. By shifting to even-year elections, current City Council members would have to serve an additional year as a one-time occurrence. Measure A also requires the elected County Registrar of Voters to run the election, instead of having City staffers in charge of counting the votes for their own City Council bosses.

YES FOR DEMOCRACY! YES TO SAVE MONEY! YES on Measure A!

For more information, and to ask questions, visit our website: http://www.YesOnMeasureA.blogspot.com

/s/ Hal Conklin, former Santa Barbara Mayor /s/ Kenneth A. Pettit, former County Registrar of Voters /s/ Joseph Allen, Attorney at Law /s/ David Pritchett, Co-Chair, Santa Barbara Clean Elections Working Group /s/ Cathy Murillo, Journalist and Community Activist

This is a calculated attempt by current City Council members to receive special treatment by increasing their terms of office from four to five years while masquerading as a measure to save money. Other than judges and two United States Senators, no other office holders in California hold such lengthy terms. Citizens of Santa Barbara should not reward local politicians with such a generous gift.

We elected the Mayor and City Council Members to four-year terms. Not five. How would we feel if our Governor suddenly wanted a five-year term? Our President? This is not how our democracy works.

Current Council Members already benefit from a huge salary increase granted in 2004; now they want an additional year of that pay increase. Will they suddenly become more accountable to the electorate for their actions if they are granted an additional year in office? We think not.

Measure A greatly alters the nature of local elections by moving them from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years. Our current system allows citizens to focus on local candidates and issues because they are the only ones on the ballot. Local issues and candidates will get lost when forced to compete for the attention of the voter with State and Federal measures and politicians.

There are far better ways to improve City government than handing politicians another year in office.

VOTE NO ON MEASURE A. Say no to politicians extending their terms of office. Keep the City Council Members accountable to the people through four-year terms in office by rejecting Measure A. Keep local elections focused on local issues.

VOTE NO ON A! /s/ John McKinney /s/ Sharon Westby /s/ Dale Francisco /s/ James Kahan

Section 1300. General Municipal Elections.

General Municipal Elections for the election of officers and for such other purposes as the City Council may prescribe shall be held in the City on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each odd numbered year. The first such General Municipal Election shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 1981.

Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 1300, after the scheduled General Municipal Election of November of 2007, the next General Municipal Election for the election of officers of the City (and for such other purposes as the City Council may prescribe) shall not be held in the City until the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of 2010 and, thereafter, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even numbered year.

Section 1300.1 Transition to Even Year Elections + Mayor and Council Terms of Office Existing as of the General Municipal Election Conducted in November 2007. Notwithstanding Charter Sections 500, 500.1, and 1300, upon the duly required approval of this 2007 Charter amendment, in order for the City to appropriately transition to even year November General Municipal Elections, the following Charter provisions shall apply:

(a) Transition Terms for Council Members Elected in November of 2007. The terms of the three (3) City Council offices which are filled at the General Municipal Election held in November of 2007, (those terms of office which would otherwise terminate in January of 2012), shall not expire until January of 2013. As provided for in Section 1300 of the Charter (as amended), such terms of office shall thereafter be filled at the General Municipal Election to be held in November of 2012 and each fourth year thereafter.

(b) Transition Terms for the Mayor and Council Members Elected in November of 2005. The term of the office of Mayor and the terms of the three (3) members of the City Council in office as of November 2007 (those terms which would otherwise terminate in January 2010) shall continue in office until January 2011. As provided for in Section 1300 of the Charter (as amended), such terms of office shall thereafter be filled at the General Municipal Election to be held in November 2010 and each fourth year thereafter.

(c) Application of the Limitation on Terms + Charter Section
500.1. Notwithstanding the requirements of Charter Section
500.1 limiting service as Mayor or as a member of the City Council to no more than two (2) consecutive four (4) year terms in office, the extended office terms created by this transitional Charter amendment shall be deemed and considered a four (4) year office term for the purposes of calculating the term limitation imposed by Charter Section 500.1.

(d) General Provisions. The office of Mayor shall remain elected as Mayor, separate and apart from the other members of the City Council. All Mayor and Council terms of office shall commence on the day in January provided for in the finl paragraph of Charter Section 500, and all General Municipal Elections shall be held in November on the day established by Charter Section 1300, as amended.