BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS
AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Senator Lou Correa, Chair
BILL NO: AB 2572 HEARING DATE: 7/03/12
AUTHOR: FURUTANI ANALYSIS BY: DARREN CHESIN
AMENDED: 4/19/12
FISCAL: YES
SUBJECT
Los Angeles Community College District: governing board
elections
DESCRIPTION
Existing law generally provides that trustees of a
community college district shall be elected by using one of
the following methods:
Election of a candidate who resides and is registered to
vote in the trustee area he/she seeks to represent, by
only the voters of the same trustee area; or
Election of a candidate who resides and is registered to
vote in the trustee area he/she seeks to represent, by
the voters of the entire community college district
(at-large).
Existing law requires trustees of the Los Angeles Community
College District (LACCD) to be elected from individual
trustee areas by voters of the entire district (at-large)
and establishes seat numbers for board member elections.
Members hold office for four years with elections held
every odd-numbered year. Elections for the numbered seats
are staggered with seats 1, 3, 5, and 7 appearing on the
same ballot while seats 2, 4, and 6 appearing on the
following ballot. LACCD primary elections are held the
first Tuesday in April of every odd-numbered year with
run-off elections (if necessary) held the last Tuesday in
May of every odd-numbered year.
Existing law provides that if no candidate for a LACCD seat
receives more than 50 percent of the total votes cast in
the primary election, a run-off election must be held
between the two candidates receiving the highest number of
votes.
This bill eliminates the requirement that a run-off
election be conducted for a seat on the governing board of
the LACCD if no candidate for that seat receives more than
50 percent of the total votes cast in the primary election
thereby providing that the candidate garnering the
plurality of votes in a single election will be deemed
elected. Specifically, this bill:
Requires members of the governing board of the LACCD to
be elected at-large and by individual seat number.
Provides that, commencing with the 2013 election for the
governing board of the LACCD and each election
thereafter, upon certification of the election, the
candidate with the highest number of votes for an
individual seat number shall be deemed the candidate
elected for that individual seat number.
Makes legislative findings and declarations as to the
necessity of a special statute for the LACCD.
BACKGROUND
Board of Trustee Elections : Under current law, the LACCD
board consists of seven members who are elected at-large
from individual seat numbers for terms of four years.
Elections are held every two years, with three members
being chosen at one election and four members at the other.
If no candidate receives 50 percent or more of the total
votes cast, the two candidates receiving the most votes
advance to a run-off election.
Under this proposal, elections for the LACCD Board will be
conducted as one single election without a run-off. The
candidate receiving the highest number of votes for an
individual seat number is deemed the winner of the seat
even if he or she receives less than 50 percent of the
total votes cast.
COMMENTS
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1.According to the author , under current law, the Los
Angeles Community College District is required to have
its elections coincide with the city of Los Angeles. If a
candidate receives less than 50% of the vote in the
initial election, then the district must hold a run-off
for the top two vote-getters. The requirement for a
primary and a run-off has created a significant financial
burden for the Los Angeles Community College District.
The process of holding an additional election has reduced
the district's resources that would otherwise go toward
meeting its core mission of serving students and the
community.
Enactment of this bill would eliminate the requirement that
the Los Angeles Community College District conduct a
run-off election if no candidate receives more than 50%
of the vote. The change would save the district $3
million to $5 million every two years. The savings could
be redirected to the district's core mission of serving
students.
2.Suggested Amendment . This bill requires LACCD elections
to be converted from a system that requires a run-off if
no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the
primary to one where the candidate receiving the most
votes in the primary is elected outright. Rather than
mandating in statute that the LACCD change their method
of election, staff suggests that this bill be amended to
permit the LACCD to make this change pursuant to a Board
vote or vote of the electorate.
3.Cost vs. Benefits of Run-offs : It is not unusual for
local run-off elections to be the only race on the
ballot. Voter turn-out for local run-off elections may
be low, with the election being decided by a small number
of voters. At a time when local jurisdictions are
struggling to meet their financial needs against reduced
revenues, significant cost savings may be realized by
eliminating run-off elections for seats on the LACCD
board and putting the resources that would otherwise be
used for the run-off election towards educational
priorities.
The LACCD covers a large geographical area and their
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elections are conducted at-large. The entire community
votes for all elected positions rather than by district.
Within large geographic areas small communities may exist
with like interests and needs. These communities may
only be familiar with one candidate on the ballot who
represents the issues they find important. If their
preferred candidate does not receive the plurality of the
vote under this proposal they will not continue to a
run-off election even if they receive the second highest
number of votes in the election. Eliminating the run-off
election may prevent a candidate with significant
community support, yet who only acquired the second
highest number of votes in the election, from
representing his or her community.
The LACCD believes that by eliminating run-off elections
they can save between $3 million to $5 million every two
years which can then be directed to their core mission of
serving students and the community as a whole. According
to their estimates, 1,500 additional students can be
served with the money saved by eliminating the run-off
elections. Do the financial savings created by
eliminating a run-off election outweigh the benefits of
allowing the community to voice their preference between
the two highest vote getters at the ballot box?
PRIOR ACTION
Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee: 5-2
Assembly Appropriations Committee: 12-4
Assembly Floor: 46-25
POSITIONS
Sponsor: Los Angeles Community College District
Support: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Oppose: None received
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