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Election Results
Failed
750 votes yes (39.58%)
1,145 votes no (60.42%)
100% of precincts reporting (6/6).
1,996 ballots counted.
Starting November 8, 2022, shall the position of a directly elected mayor be eliminated, so that the St. Helena City Council is composed of five members who will select a member be mayor?
What is this proposal?
Details — Official information
Impartial analysis / Proposal
Ethan Walsh, City Attorney for the City of St. Helena
IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURE G CITY OF ST. HELENA
Measure G was placed on the ballot by the St. Helena City Council.
Pursuant to Section 2.08.010(A) of the St. Helena Municipal Code, the City currently has a directly elected mayor who serves a two year term of office. If Measure G is approved by a “Yes” vote of the majority of the electors voting on it, the position of a directly elected mayor would be eliminated, and the St. Helena City Council would be composed of five City Council members who are elected through at-large elections, and who each serve a four year term of office. The City Council would annually choose one of its members to act as Mayor through rules and procedures that the City Council would establish through a separate ordinance or resolution.
If Measure G is approved by a majority of electors voting on it, the mayor will continue to serve out his current term, and the position of the directly elected mayor in St. Helena will be eliminated as of November 8, 2022. At the November 8, 2022 election, the electors of the City would then vote for three (3) City Council members, and following the certification of the election results for the November 8, 2022 election, the City Council would select one of its members to serve as mayor in accordance with the rules and procedures separately established by the City Council.
The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure G. If you desire a copy of the Measure, please call the elections official’s office at (707) 968-2742 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.
By: Ethan Walsh, City Attorney for the City of St. Helena
Published Arguments — Arguments for and against
Arguments FOR
Argument In Favor of Measure G
Measure G is a request to reestablish St. Helena’s prior form of governance, in which five council members elected to four-year terms choose one council member to serve as mayor. This measure was placed on the ballot by a unanimous vote of the current city council.
The present system of mayoral elections every two years has become increasingly expensive and divisive. Recent elections have set records for campaign expenditures, with mayoral campaigns at 2-3 times the cost of city council campaigns, and for the first time in living memory we have seen a campaign to recall a mayor - the only recall campaign against any mayor or city council member in the last 60 years or more.
A return to our historic system of appointing the mayor from among the elected city council members will eliminate the role of campaign contributions in choosing our mayor. Selecting the mayor by a vote of the city council will encourage the collaborative approach to governance we need to make progress in challenging times. Incorporating objective criteria into the council mayoral selection process also will promote consistency and stability in the mayoral position and help ensure that the chosen mayor has the required knowledge, experience and preparation to lead and inspire our council and community.
Reduce campaign expenditures and bring our council members together. Vote YES on MEASURE G.
s/Lester Hardy Council Member
s/Anna Chouteau Council Member
s/Eric M. Hall Council Member
s/Paul J. Dohring Vice Mayor
— Napa County Elections Website
More information
