In 2018, Westminster voters decided to double the mayor’s term from two to four years.
Now, residents have a new decision to make: Do they want to end citywide mayoral elections altogether?
A lot has changed over the past four years — namely, the makeup of the Westminster City Council. Starting in early 2021, three council members coalesced against Mayor Tri Ta — who has served in his role for nearly a decade. Tai Do, Kimberly Ho, and Carlos Manzo routinely clash with Ta.
The new council majority voted 3-2 last November to put an initiative on the ballot pushing to eliminate the office of the elective mayor.
If Measure C is approved by voters, council members would rotate annually into the mayoral slot — already, a largely ceremonial position with no extra powers. Most of Orange County’s smaller cities appoint, rather than elect, their mayors.
Westminster’s number of districts would increase to five, each represented by one council member. Currently, Westminster has four districts along with a mayor who is elected at large.
The city was carved into voting precincts in 2019. Like numerous other California cities, Westminster made the switch under threat of litigation that alleged at-large elections dilute minority voices.
Whatever happens on Tuesday, the city must submit a new precinct map based on 2020 census figures. The map — either for four districts or for five, depending on the outcome of the vote —.needs to be ready by a deadline of July 6 for the general election in November.
Westminster activist Terry Rains wrote an opinion in support of Measure C for the Voter Information Guide. Rains argued that appointing — rather than electing — the mayor helps to depoliticize the office and allows every district a turn at mayoral representation.
Opponents, including Ta and Councilman Chi Charlie Nguyen, counter that electing a mayor at large gives all residents an opportunity to select their city leader.
Ta is not running for reelection at this time, instead focusing on his campaign to represent the the 70th State Assembly District. He was the first Vietnamese American elected mayor in the nation.
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