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<br />Back To: Home Page | Table of Contents | Charter main page <br /> <br />BALLOT LANGUAGE <br />FINAL <br />DIGEST OF CHARTER AMENDMENTS <br />*** Click on the individual amendment for detailed Charter language*** <br />1. Nonpartisan Elections. Under Charter Amendment No. 1, all county elected officers--mayor, council, and <br />prosecuting attorney--would be elected in nonpartisan elections. All candidates for a particular office would be <br />on the ballot at an election held at the same time as the primary election. If one candidate received more than <br />50% of the votes cast for that office, not counting any blank or spoiled ballots, that candidate would be elected. <br />If no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, the two receiving the most votes would run at an election <br />held at the same time as the general election. No party identification would appear on the county ballot. The <br />timing of elections would not change--the mayor and prosecuting attorney would continue to be elected for four- <br />year terms, and the county council would continue to be elected for two-year terms. In the present charter, any <br />county council vacancy is filled by the remaining council members appointing a member belonging to the same <br />political party as the former member. If nonpartisan elections are adopted, it would no longer be required that the <br />new member belong to the same political party. <br />2. Managing Director’s Authority. At present, the managing director has supervisory authority over the public <br />works, parks and recreation, and fire departments. Charter Amendment No. 2 would give the managing director <br />supervisory authority over all county departments and agencies. As at present, this authority would be exercised <br />under the ultimate control of the mayor. The managing director would also be the head of an office of <br />management. County council confirmation of the managing director would be required. The managing director <br />would be given additional responsibility for the budget. The managing director would have to meet additional <br />qualifications. <br />3. Fire Commission. Charter Amendment No. 3 would create a fire commission. It would appoint and remove <br />the fire chief. Under the present charter, the mayor has those powers. The fire commission would consist of nine <br />members, appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the county council. One member would be a resident of <br />each county council district. The fire commission would also advise the fire chief. <br />4. Department of Environmental Management. Charter Amendment No. 4 would transfer the county’s solid <br />waste, wastewater, and recycling programs from the department of public works to a new department of <br />environmental management. <br />The mayor would appoint the director of the department, with county council confirmation. There would be an <br />environmental management commission to advise the department, and to have other powers which might later be <br />delegated to it by ordinance. It would consist of nine members. One would be a resident of each county council <br />district. The members would be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the county council. <br />5. Hold-over of Members of Boards and Commissions. Charter Amendment No. 5 would allow members <br />of boards and commissions whose terms had expired to continue to serve for ninety days, or until a successor is <br />appointed and confirmed, whichever came first. Under the present charter, members can hold over for a <br /> <br />