Motion by Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky

August 24, 1999

MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ZEV YAROSLAVSKY

The structure of county government in the State of California is an anachronism. Despite a population now topping nearly 10 million residents, Los Angeles County is still governed by a Board comprising only five elected members, none of whom is elected by the entire County.

Moreover, this Board serves as both executive and legislative branch rolled into one. Our Constitution enshrines a doctrine of "separation of powers" which has served the national, state and many local governments around the country quite well for more than 200 years. Yet, in Los Angeles County – which is more populous than 42 states – we lack this most fundamental check and balance.

Los Angeles County residents suffer as a result of their governmental structure. There are clear advantages to having one elected executive who is electorally accountable to all 10 million residents of the County. Only a countywide elected official can properly consider the "common interest" of the entire County population in making the many executive decisions required on a daily basis. Such a system would sharply reduce the potential for parochialism and incorporate the essential regional perspective in County decision making.

Creating an office of elected County executive would also permit expanding the number and reducing the size of the districts into more accessible and manageable jurisdictions. Reconstituting County government into an executive branch representing a regional perspective, offset with an expanded Board better able to effectively articulate the needs of each individual district, would strike a new and appropriate balance between the interests of the region as a whole and those of its constituent communities.

I, THEREFORE, MOVE that the Board direct County Counsel to prepare two ordinances for submission to County voters for the November 2000 general election ballot: the first to expand the present five-member Board to comprise nine members, and the second to establish a new Countywide elective office of County Executive; and further, that the Board direct County Counsel to return in 45 days with draft language for Board consideration.