Fail: 598,846 / 22.41% Yes votes ...... 2,073,761 / 77.59% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Impartial Analysis from John F. Krattli, County Counsel

Measure A is an advisory election that asks the voters if they prefer to have the Los Angeles County Assessor ("Assessor") be an appointed position rather than an elected position.

Currently, both the California Constitution ("Constitution") and the Los Angeles County Charter ("Charter") require that the Assessor be elected. Any amendment to the Charter would be contingent upon amending the Constitution.

A "yes" vote means that you support having the County seek a legislative sponsor to place a constitutional amendment on a future ballot to allow voters statewide to decide if the Assessor should be appointed. A "yes" vote further means that you support having the County place a Charter amendment on a future ballot to allow voters countywide to decide if the Assessor should be appointed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors ("Board") and not elected by the voters. A "no" vote means that you do not support seeking amendment to the Constitution or the Charter and that you prefer an elected Assessor.

An advisory measure seeks voter opinion only. The result of the election is not binding on either the Board or the California Legislature, and has no impact on subsequent voter approval.

NO ARGUMENTS WERE SUBMITTED FOR OR AGAINST THIS MEASURE

L.A. County Assessor's Office

Maplight / Voters Edge Maplight / Voters Edge (Measures B & J included)

The Situation: Currently, Los Angeles County voters elect the County Assessor. An elected position holder is often seen as more responsive to the public than is an appointed position holder, who is responsible first to the appointing authority. However, as elections are becoming more and more expensive, campaign contributions and the need to encourage them are more and more important, leading to concerns about potential corruption. Those backing Measure A believe that an appointed Assessor would be better insulated from conflicts of interest and could more easily focus on public duties without the additional recurring demand to run in an election to retain the office and solicit funds to do so.

A Yes vote means that the voter agrees a change to an appointed Assessor would be in the public interest and that the long process to achieve such a change by working to change the County Charter and the State Constitution should be begun. No actual change in Assessor status would be made unless and until the Charter and Constitution are changed.

A No vote means that the voter wants the Assessor to continue to be elected.