Should the city treasurer and city clerk be appointed or
elected? That is the question facing Morgan Hill voters Nov. 2.
Should the city treasurer and city clerk be appointed or elected? That is the question facing Morgan Hill voters Nov. 2.
If the measure passes with a majority vote, it will change the way in which the two positions are filled for the first time since the city was founded. The offices of city clerk and city treasurer have been held by elected officials since 1906.
Opponents say elections for the positions will ensure the offices are independent from the city council and city manager. They say the fact that the current city clerk – Irma Torrez – and city treasurer – Mike Roorda – are qualified and have performed their jobs without controversy shows that the voters can elect adequately experienced office holders.
That is the only argument against voting yes.
And it’s fallacious.
For one, allowing the five members of the city council – who, by the way – are elected by you, the voters, would ensure the two positions are filled by qualified people. Just because Torrez and Roorda, who were elected and by all accounts have performed their duties admirably, doesn’t mean the next two will. That’s the level of oversight needed.
And, appointing someone to the position makes them more independent and further removed from politics.
“Those are both very critical positions that need to have a certain skill set to them,” Councilman Larry Carr told reporter Michael Moore. “Making them elected, they become politicians. Those operations are too critical to the city for them to be political.”
In addition, the appointments work just fine. Most California cities currently appoint their city clerks and city treasurers, according to city staff. Out of 478 incorporated towns and cities in the state, 154 (about 32 percent) have elected city clerks and 174 (about 36 percent) have elected city treasurers.
The city clerk’s duties include overseeing elections, ensuring council actions are in compliance with public information laws, organizing and overseeing public records, and related municipal services.
The city treasurer is responsible for the investment of the city’s $85 million portfolio, which consists mainly of unspent capital improvement dollars. The official’s decisions do not require approval by the city manager or council, but he routinely consults with city hall finance staff before making any investments, city staff said.
Finally, allowing the city council to make appointments to the two positions would save the city $50,000 every four years.
Add it all up, and it makes sense to vote yes on Measure P.
