RCRC has officially opposed Senate Bill 286, authored by Senator Dave Min (D–Irvine). SB 286 is very similar to last year’s Senate Bill 1450 (Umberg), which the RCRC Board of Directors took action to oppose. SB 286 would require the top-two vote-getters seeking election to a county office to face-off in a General Election.
SB 286 would essentially change the current election model for elected county offices by requiring the top-two vote-receiving candidates for a county office in a Primary Election to advance to a run-off in the General Election, including candidates who receive more than 50 percent of the vote in the Primary Election.
Counties, along with other locally-elected offices, have operated under the current election model for several decades, and it is generally agreed that government has worked well. SB 286 is unnecessary and would prolong an already lengthy and expensive campaign, especially for seats on the Board of Supervisors.
RCRC’s letter of opposition can be accessed here. For more information, contact Paul A. Smith, RCRC Senior Vice President Governmental Affairs, at (916) 447-4806 or psmith@rcrcnet.org.