A United Front - Let the Voters Decide: Firefighters, Labor, Business, Community, Civic, Religious, and Environmental Leaders Call for Charter Reforms for San Diego County
In an unusual display of nonpartisan solidarity, community, civic, business, labor, environmental, public safety, health, and student leaders, with a wide range of political beliefs, today stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the San Diego County Building in support of Charter reforms. The San Diego County charter changes would strengthen accountability, transparency, stability, checks & balances, independent oversight, and effective government.
"Today, local governments, especially County governments, are being asked to fill gaps in the social safety net created by failures of leadership at the federal level. That's why now more than ever, San Diegans should be doing everything we can to protect and strengthen local democratic institutions,” said Dr. Kyra Greene, Executive Director of the Center on Policy Initiatives. “We support Chair Lawson-Remer's common-sense proposals because they will make the County more transparent, more accountable, and better able to fulfill its essential responsibilities to San Diegans."
The San Diego Board of Supervisors will take a first vote on April 21 to decide whether to allow voters to consider potential charter reforms. The proposed changes would be required to be implemented in a revenue-neutral manner, meaning no new spending or reduced county services. Under California law, only voters can adopt or amend charter provisions. If approved by the Board, the full reform package would go directly to the public for approval in November.
Click here to read the Board proposal:
The reforms include:
- An independent ethics commission with authority over elected officials
- A nonpartisan budget analyst who reports to the Board and the public, not the bureaucracy
- An independent program auditor to evaluate whether county programs deliver results
- Consistent term limits across all county elected offices, aligned with the three term, 12-year limits for CA state legislators — extending Board of Supervisors limits from two to three terms; and automatically imposing term limits on the Sheriff, District Attorney, and other county electeds, who currently serve with no term limits at all, if state law is amended to grant SD County the authority to apply term limits to these officials
- Public input and a Board confirmation process for appointing key county senior leadership positions— to strengthen transparency, accountability, and checks and balances
“San Diego County’s governance structure has not kept pace with its size and complexity,” said Jack McGrory, former longtime City Manager for the City of San Diego. “Charter reform will strengthen transparency, accountability, and ethics at the County. I appreciate the Board’s courage in partnering with community leaders to champion reforms that will make a real difference for the residents of San Diego County.”
As the Trump Administration continues to break the rule of law, defy court orders, and dismantle oversight, citizens across San Diego County have partnered with Board of Supervisors Chair Terra Lawson-Remer to strengthen transparency, accountability, checks and balances, stability, and effective government locally to keep County housing, addiction, food, health, and small business programs buoyant and thriving.
“Civic and business leaders have talked about the need of having clearer oversight in such a large County for many years,” said Mel Katz, a San Diego County Business & Civic Leader. “Small business owners don’t have access to legal teams and depend on government systems to be transparent, clear, fair, and accountable.”
Today, San Diego County has a population of 3.3 million people with a budget of more than $8-billion dollars, yet the County Charter hasn’t been significantly updated since 1978. That is particularly troubling to first responders, law enforcement, and firefighters.
“Firefighters adapt as conditions change - longer fire seasons, new risks, growing communities. County governance should adapt too,” said John Clark, President of the San Diego County Firefighters Local 2881. “Clear accountability and modern oversight help ensure resources are used effectively to keep people safe.”
“As Sheriff’s Deputies, we know that public trust is essential to doing our jobs well,” said Mike O’Deane, President of the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association. “These Charter reforms make sense. Increasing transparency, stability, and oversight will be good for County operations, good for public trust, and good for the communities we serve.”
Community leaders who work in reproductive health, on environmental issues, and with diverse non-profit groups believe it's time for a change. They have had to withstand crippling budget cuts and restrictions by the Trump Administration. They want accountability at the highest level in local government.
“In a time when conversations around accountability matter, let’s make sure the biggest government in our region follows through with actions and not just promises,” said Max Disposti, a non-profit executive, a LGBTQ+ leader, and Chair of the Oceanside Community Relations Commission. “A systemic reform that can finally bring transparency into our budget process by allowing public input while implementing an independent auditing process that can actually evaluate the impact of our tax dollar investments. It is time for a change so that the County does not operate with the same systemic values of several decades ago.”
“Reproductive health and freedom does not exist in a vacuum. Every day, our patients count on public systems that are stable, responsive, and committed to serving the public good. When County government functions effectively, patients experience fewer barriers to accessing care, public health programs are better resourced, and communities have a clearer understanding of how decisions impacting their health are made,” said Vernita Gutierrez, Vice President of External Affairs, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest. “Strengthening independent oversight, building public trust, and ensuring that County leadership is accountable to the public helps safeguard the systems that people rely on for essential services.”
Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer will bring the Charter reform changes before the Board for a vote on April 21. If the reforms are passed by the Board on first and second readings, there will be a November 2026 Charter Reform ballot measure to let the voters of San Diego County decide.
“I am so honored to work with such a diverse group of community leaders to hopefully bring a thoughtful set of charter reform proposals to the voters for consideration. These are thoughtful, visionary, and share a commitment to accountability, transparency, and change that will benefit everyone,” said Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer.
BACKGROUND:
Click Here to See the News Conference: https://youtu.be/VvliQf8p9oA