Pass: 44,906 / 62.7% Yes votes ...... 26,718 / 37.3% No votes

See Also: Index of all Propositions

Impartial Analysis

This proposition would amend Sections 300, 303 and 503 of the Chula Vista City Charter, and would add section 300.5 to the City Charter. The proposed Charter amendments and addition would change the City's election system for City Councilmembers from the current "at large" system (where City Councilmembers are elected by voters City-wide), to a "by district" system (where City Councilmembers are elected by voters within defined geographic districts where they must reside). It would also change the election process for the Mayor, the City Attorney and City Councilmembers by making a November "run-off" election mandatory for each office regardless of whether one candidate receives greater than 50% of the vote in the general election, or if there are only two candidates that qualify to run for the seat.

The Charter currently provides that City Councilmembers be elected "at large," by voters Citywide. This proposition would instead provide that Councilmembers be elected "by district," with each City Councilmember representing one of four geographic districts. Each Councilmember would have to reside in the district which that Councilmember represents, and only residents of that district would vote for that district's Councilmember. A volunteer citizen's commission comprised of seven City residents would be established and charged with the responsibility of drawing district boundaries. The proposition sets forth qualifications for these commissioners and a process for their selection that includes a lottery system for choosing the first four commissioners. Those four commissioners would then select the remaining three. It also establishes the criteria the commission would use in determining the recommended boundaries using population and demographic information from the most recent Federal Decennial Census. The commission would submit proposed district boundaries to the City Council for approval or comment. The proposition authorizes the City Council to adopt ordinances necessary to create the commission, ensure timely selection of commission members, and fully implement the commission's powers and duties. It also requires that the City Council appropriate sufficient funding to the commission to carry out its duties.

If the proposition is approved, district elections would commence in 2016 for Council seats 3 and 4, and 2018 for Council seats 1 and 2.

The Charter currently provides that the Mayor, City Councilmembers and City Attorney could be elected at a general municipal election. Under this system, if one candidate receives more than 50% of the votes cast at a general election, that candidate wins, with no run-off election required. This proposition would require a mandatory run-off election in November between the two candidates who receive the highest number of votes in the general election regardless of whether one candidate receives greater than 50% of votes cast. If only two candidates file nomination papers for a general election, there would be no general election for that seat, and those two candidates would automatically proceed to a November run-off election.

If this proposition is approved, this mandatory run-off election requirement would begin in 2014.