Voters in Los Angeles County have approved Measure G, supporting the expansion of the powerful county Board of Supervisors from five to nine.
The latest numbers from the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Monday showed the measure had about 51% of total votes in support, giving it the simple majority needed to pass.
The measure also calls for making the county CEO an elected position, sort of like a mayor, instead of one appointed by the board members. Translation? It will create a new L.A. powerbroker who is beholden to voters – not the supervisors.
“Measure G’s approval by the voters is a significant victory for Los Angeles County and our communities that deserve a seat at the table,” said District 1 Supervisor Hilda Solis, who oversees unincorporated East L.A. “As one of the most diverse and populous municipalities in this nation, I have long believed that the composition of the Board of Supervisors should reflect the diversity of our residents.”
It would also create an independent ethics commission that increases restrictions on lobbying, investigates misconduct and creates a non-partisan legislative analyst’s position to review proposed county legislation. The city and state have similar positions.
“[It answers] the public’s demand for transparency and accountability,” added Solis. “With a budget of roughly $49 billion, Measure G is giving the public a say in how their tax dollars can be better spent to bolster our public safety, expand access to parks and libraries, and improve our infrastructure.”
Why this race mattered
The structure of the L.A. County’s government has remained mostly unchanged since 1912, when voters approved a new charter. Back then, the population of the area was roughly 500,000.
Today, L.A. County has a population close to 10 million – it’s the most populous county in the U.S. That’s one reason, according to supporters, that change is long overdue. Each supervisor now has a constituency of about two million people.
The supervisors handle many responsibilities, including setting policy for public health, social services, jails and transportation.
Supporters said making the board larger would make it more responsive by entrusting each supervisor with smaller geographic areas and fewer people. Solis has also argued the measure will help address representation and diversity in the county.
In addition to Solis, Measure G was supported by two other current supervisors, Janice Hahn and Horvath. County Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Holly Mitchell opposed the measure.
The measure’s opponents argued that the overhaul left too many details to figure out, and that salaries for the new positions could lead to budget problems. Others argued that creating the county executive position would concentrate too much power on one individual.
By 2026, an independent L.A. County Ethics Commission, an Office of Ethics Compliance and the position of Ethics Compliance Officer will need to be established. The position of County CEO, which voters will elect, must be created and implemented by 2028. The board expansion itself will take effect by 2032 following a redistricting process.
This report is reprinted with permission from Southern California Public Radio. © 2024 Southern California Public Radio. All rights reserved.