Elections, member removal measures lead

Early returns show that Measure C, which would change San Diego Unified elections to be by sub-district only, is leading in votes.

Meanwhile Measure D, which would allow an easier way for San Diego Unif ied board members to be removed, has a commanding lead, according to early returns.

Currently, all voters in San Diego Unif ied — which is split into f ive geographic sub-districts represented by a board member — vote on all f ive board members in the general election.

Measure C would change the general election so voters would vote only for their sub-district representative, which is how the City Council is elected.

Measure C supporters have argued it would make for a fairer election process because voters would no longer be allowed to choose someone else’s representative.

Proponents have also arg ued that at-large elections tend to favor certain candidates who have resources and big-name support and make it harder for people of color to get elected.

Some of Measure C ’s opponents have arg ued that it would disenfranchise people of color because there are three board seats appor tioned to areas nor th of Interstate 8 and two appor tioned south of I-8, where schools have high percentages of students of color.

Measure D would add a school board member removal process that already exists for the City Council. If four of the board’s f ive members decide that cause exists to remove a member, then a districtwide removal election would be held.

City Councilmembers Chris Cate and Vivian Moreno created Measure D after four men accused current School Board Trustee Kevin Beiser of sexual harassment or sexual assault last year — allegations that Beiser denied.

No argument was filed against Measure D to the registrar of voters.

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