Tonight at 6:30 PM, during its regular meeting, the Garden Grove City Council will discuss the possibility of extending the term limits for Councilmembers and dividing the City into 6 voting districts. It is Item Number 9.a on the agenda. Currently no person can serve more than two consecutive four-year terms as a Councilmember, while the Mayor is limited to only four consecutive two-year terms. Candidates for City Council must also run a city-wide campaign because it is an at-large election where only the top two vote-getters will be seated.
According to my sources, this proposal is being floated by Councilman Bruce Broadwater at the behest of residents in west Garden Grove who are frustrated that they are no longer the dominant voting block in the City. Broadwater will likely argue that dividing the City up into 6 different council districts will enhance the make-up of the Council, making it more reflective of the various communities in Garden Grove.
I suspect Broadwater's proposed charter already secured the support of Mayor Bill Dalton, but it will be heavily opposed by Councilmembers Dina Nguyen and Steve Jones. As such, he needed a third vote from Mark Rosen, who will be termed-out at the end of 2008, to even put this as a question ballot for the voters to decide. If there's a election to consider the adoption of this proposed charter, it will either be placed on the February or June ballot if Rosen is to be given enough time to file for re-election as an incumbent. Do you smell something fishy about this whole deal?
Why not divide the GG into 6 little cities? I
think Mr.Broadwater's plan would create divided, dysfunctional GG community. I'm deeply disappointed with former mayor.
Posted by: Jaime | August 28, 2007 at 06:01 PM
Garden Grove is on the high side of a city that should do city wide elections, though. Anything more than 150,000 and you really cause problems. In addition, a city wide campaign is much more expensive than a district-based campaign. There are pros and cons for both.
Posted by: calwatch | August 28, 2007 at 08:13 PM
Its mark Rosen trying to get another tem on the council so he can push through the casino plan.
Posted by: | August 28, 2007 at 11:09 PM
Mark Rosen should look for another job with indian tribe. We don't want him here in GG.
Posted by: student | August 29, 2007 at 09:38 AM