Charter County Proposal to Go to Public Vote
Shasta County, CA – The Shasta County Board of Supervisors (BOS) have voted in favor of placing a Charter County proposal on the ballots for public consideration during the upcoming March 5, 2024 primary election. The vote occurred during the November 7, 2023 Board meeting, following its initial introduction and approval by the BOS during the October 31, 2023 meeting.
In the event of a vacancy on the BOS, the proposed charter would grant the BOS authority to either appoint a replacement by a majority vote of the seated members, call a special election to fill the vacancy, or leave the seat vacant until the next general election. Currently, in the event of a vacancy on the board, a replacement would be appointed by the California Governor.
The proposed ordinance states that, “whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of supervisor on the Shasta County Board of Supervisors, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors may fill the vacancy by appointment or call a special election. If the Board appoints the replacement, the appointee shall be from among the qualified electors of the Supervisorial District in which such vacancy exists and shall hold office until the election and qualification of his or her successor”.
The decision to bring this Charter County proposal to the voters highlights the commitment of the Shasta County BOS to maintain local autonomy and ensure that the voices of Shasta County residents are central in the decision-making process. With this Charter, the County aims to safeguard its ability to appoint a representative who understands the unique needs and challenges of Shasta County.
If approved by the electorate, the County Charter would be considered ratified by voters, but would not take effect until accepted and filed by the California Secretary of State.
The BOS encourages all Shasta County residents to take part in the upcoming March primary election and exercise their right to vote on the Charter County proposal. The outcome will have a lasting impact on the future of local representation and governance.
