VOTERS TO DECIDE ON MAKING CITY POSITIONS APPOINTED

Similar ballot measure on National City treasurer, clerk roles failed in 2020

National City voters will once again decide whether the city clerk and treasurer positions should be changed from elected to appointed roles.

Council members recently approved putting a measure on the November ballot. Both positions are part time.

The measure would need a simple majority to pass. If it does, City Clerk Luz Molina and City Treasurer Mitch Beauchamp would remain in their positions until the end of their terms in November 2024, or sooner if they choose to resign.

Molina, who was elected to the role in November 2020, is running for City Council District 1, one of four new districts created by the council in April.

At a council meeting earlier this month, Molina said she supported making the city clerk position an appointed one, saying the part-time role is largely ceremonial and “the highly technical knowledge needed of a city clerk is acquired via a planned career path with specialized study and certification.”

City clerks keep records of the legislative body’s proceedings, publish city ordinances and administer oaths, among other duties. The annual pay is $11,000, along with benefits, training and memberships. If the position were eliminated, the city would save about $30,800 per year, according to city staff. No additional employee would be hired if the ballot measure is passed, and the work would continue with the city’s two other full-time clerks.

For treasurer, only Councilmember Jose Rodriguez voted against switching the position to an appointed one, saying that role should remain independent.

Beauchamp, who was elected in 2008 and served two terms on the City Council between 1994 and 2002, has an annual base salary of about $11,000. He is responsible for securing public funds and handling trust funds and collecting city taxes and license fees. As with the city clerk role, current staff would pick up the duties. If the position is eliminated, the city would save about $24,000 annually.

National City tried to make the switch in 2020, but 52 percent of voters rejected the move. The city had expressed interest in shifting the positions after former City Clerk Michael Dallas announced plans to retire.

To date, the only other cities in San Diego County with elected city clerks are Oceanside and Carlsbad, which placed a ballot measure this year to switch to an appointed position. As of last week, 51 percent of voters opposed the move.

Five cities in the county — Oceanside, Escondido, La Mesa, Carlsbad and National City — have elected city treasurer roles.