San Bernardino Leaders Explore Appointing Mayors Instead of Elections
San Bernardino Considers Transition from Elected to Appointed Mayor
San Bernardino, the largest city in San Bernardino County, is deliberating a significant change to its governance structure by potentially eliminating its elected mayoral position in favor of appointing a mayor selected by the city council.
A special public meeting has been scheduled for Monday, where the city council intends to draft a charter amendment set for the upcoming June election. However, a city spokesperson did not provide any reasons behind the initiative proposed by certain council members.
“This raises a lot of concern and questions,” remarked Mayor Helen Tran, who expressed her alarm over the council’s plans, indicating that she had not been informed prior to the announcement. She finds the potential shift from an elected to an appointed mayor especially troubling given the city’s substantial population and the tradition of direct accountability through elections. “Being voted at large, there is a higher chance for accountability,” Tran stated. “For us to be the largest city in the county of San Bernardino and not have an at-large mayor while other cities do, that is concerning and questionable.”
As the city’s first Asian American mayor, Tran is nearing the end of her four-year term, which she has focused on addressing homelessness, protecting public health, and rebuilding trust in local governance.
On the matter at hand, six of the seven city council members either declined to comment or did not respond to inquiries regarding the proposed amendment. Councilmember Dr. Treasure Ortiz, representing the Seventh Ward, voiced her opposition to the council’s direction. “We had a charter change in 2016, so we are now a council-manager form of government vs. a strong mayor,” Ortiz noted. “Being the largest city in the County of San Bernardino, and the ninth-largest in California, this raises important discussions about representation that nobody has had.”
Ultimately, the decision regarding the potential change will rest with the voters in the upcoming June Primary Election.
