Blog note: this opinion piece references a 2016 Los Angeles County Grand Jury report.
In 1850, California’s first State Constitution created counties “as legal subdivisions of the state,” with a “unified” governance structure, vesting in them all executive, legislative and even judicial power. The structure is virtually unchanged, despite the state’s population increasing from fewer than 100,000 people to nearly 40 million people.
Today, a California county supervisor can represent a population larger than that of entire U.S. states. Nationally, nearly all high-population counties, such as Miami-Dade, Cook (Chicago), Harris (Dallas), and King (Seattle), have expanded their boards and separated the three governance functions, in keeping with our system of separation of powers.
The 2016 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury Report examined the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ functions and found serious management, accountability, executive and strategic-planning issues. Overall, it found alarming problems with the current governance structure, and recommended “The people of Los Angeles County would be better served with a greater number of supervisors.” The county board has refused to discuss the report, let alone heed its valid and pressing findings.
SCA12 proposes that any county with more than 5 million people, greater than the population of 27 individual states in the U.S., should have a legislative board exercising legislative authority with members that represent no more than the population in two federal congressional districts — approximately 1.4 million residents — along with a county executive with defined executive powers. Using the 5 million resident population threshold allows for gradual implementation as the populations of other counties grow over time.
SCA12 will not cost taxpayers more money, as the measure requires that the changes be cost-neutral, using existing funding levels, since each board member will serve fewer constituents. I welcome any additional proposals to strengthen cost controls.
This modest proposal for gradual, responsible change was approved Sept. 14 by the state Senate with a two-thirds supermajority, including 16 of 27 Democrats and 11 of 13 Republicans voting to support SCA12. While some opponents have erroneously claimed that “Sacramento politicians” are motivated to support SCA12 to create future jobs for themselves, the diversity of support across the state, transcending ideological and partisan lines, demonstrates that this measure and its benefits unify elected officials behind its righteous intent.
If approved by the state Assembly, SCA12 will go to the voters in November 2018 and, if it wins, will be implemented after the 2020 census.
Any change to governance in California must consider impacts on language, ethnic, racial and other minority groups. Los Angeles County’s white population is 37 percent of the total, but three (60 percent) of the supervisors are white; Latinos are nearly 48 percent of the population, but only one supervisor (20 percent) is Latino; and an Asian American has never served on the board. SCA12 will give these groups a fair chance to elect candidates of their choosing to county boards.
SCA12 balances the issue of “local and “state” control on governance. Counties derive their authority from the state Constitution, and substantive changes in governing bodies require a state constitutional amendment. With an eye on the future, California has previously placed initiatives on the ballot similar to SCA12. Furthermore, in the last three years alone, the Legislature has passed 103 county-specific bills. It is not only within the Legislature’s power to help shape and enhance local governance, but an established legal precedent.
By approving SCA12, California’s voters can ensure that counties have a responsive and just governance system based on the principles of fair representation and shared governance through checks and balances. These concepts are the bedrock of our system of government, in our great state and the nation as a whole.
September 29, 2017
Whittier Daily News
By Tony Mendoza. Member of the California Senate
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