Voters in Culver City chose accountability over other political concerns on Election Day, according to a Culver City water quality specialist and a local political consultant.
The passage of water quality and stormwater initiative Measure CW by a wide margin illustrated that Culver City residents understand the need to get a handle on stormwater pollution from an environmental as well as fiscal standpoint.
“I think it’s long overdue. I think we’re seeing an investment in California cities and recognition of reinvestment in the environment from our cities,” said Culver City resident James Alamillio, the urban water programs manager at the nonprofit water quality organization Heal the Bay.
“We saw that with the Culver City demographics with CW. Californians understands that making an investment in our society is making an investment our environment.”
Measure CA was the ballot measure championed by many of the city’s political status quo went down in flames on Election Day, losing 65% to 35%. A yes vote would have changed Culver City’s charter to have the police and fire chief report directly to the city manager instead of the city council, as they currently do.
Political consultant Jewett Walker Jr. agreed with Councilwoman Meghan Sahli-Wells on her theory why the measure lost: the proponents never offered a compelling reasons why voters should amend the city’s charter to switch authority of appointing Culver City’s public safety leaders.
“All they seemed to being saying was ‘We have other jobs. We’re too busy. Let the city manager take over.’ But the voters saw through that,” said Walker, who has run statewide campaigns for candidates and ballot initiatives. “You have to give voters a reason to vote for a change this drastic and the supporters of Measure CA never did.”
Walker referenced a case that made statewide headlines after a homeless man was beaten to death by Fullerton police in 2011. Fullerton’s city manager was in charge of appointing the city’ s police chief and the city council chose not to respond to residents demands for the release of a surveillance tape of the fatal beating of homeless schizophrenic Kelly Thomas, the son of a former Orange County deputy.
Public outcry led to the resignation of the city’s police chief and the recall of three city councilmen. On Aug. 8, 2012 the council voted to have the police chief report directly to the council instead of the city manager.
“I think that today’s climate dictates accountability and responsibility. You have to be able to trust your elected leadership, who are ultimately responsible for what goes on in a city,” said Walker, who worked on one of the newly elected Fullerton councilman’s campaign.
“Culver City voters demonstrated the intelligence and the patience to wade through a long ballot and vote for accountability.”
Alamillo thinks people are much more aware now of how stormwater pollution, preservation of the environment and water quality are not to be viewed independently.
“Unfortunately, the drought is the new normal and we’re seeing a recognition of the interconnectedness of all of these environmental issues and not looking at them in different silos,” he said.
Measures CB, which mandates that anyone who resigns from public office must now wait at least two years before seeking office again, was a “no-brainer,” according to Walker. It passed with 70% of the vote.
The initiative that allows the City Council to determine when it will hold its meetings was one of the least talked about, but Measure CD sailed to passage with 72% of ballots cast.
Gary Walker contributed to this story.
