STEERING COMMITTEE

Stephanie, Law Enforcement, RET., Community Advocate, & Proponent

Margie Rodriguez, Cesar E. Chavez Remembrance Program Founder & Proponent 

Monica Sena, School Administrator, RET. & Community Leader

Nick Donovan, Community Leader, W.H.O.W. Member & Proponent

ABOUT US

We are a nonpartisan group of residents advocating for term limits and election date change in the City of Whittier through a ballot measure. Civic Participation and Voting are a fundamental right.  Whittier's off-cycle elections hinder voting, cost taxpayers more money, and the lack of term limits obstruct civic engagement. 

WHAT WE PROPOSE

We propose a maximum of 12 years for all appointed and elected city council members and consolidation of the election date to November. 

WHY WE NEED TERM LIMITS

Whittier's current election process gives the advantage to incumbents. Some members of our city council have each been in power for 12, 18, and 19 years. The incumbent's name recognition and well-established relationships with donors (many of which are outside special interests) discourages new candidates to seek office.  

Local reform would create more opportunities for leadership and promote a fair electoral system. It would encourage new candidates to seek office with new ideas, new enthusiasm, and a more relevant candidate without changing our Whittier values of love for community.  It will promote transparency and rebuild trust between local government and its voters.

Term limits provide Whittier elected officials with ample time, ability, opportunity, and the motivation to set and meet their goals (or promises) to Whittier residents. Term limits create a sense of insistent obligation, as opposed to a lackadaisical approach to politics with no accountability.  

WHY WE NEED TO CHANGE THE ELECTION DATE

The City of Whittier holds its elections in April, making it off-cycle. We have over 55,000 registered voters and an average of 7,000 voted in the last five elections.* City Council has shown no concern whatsoever about its low voter turnout during those elections. 

In 2015 California Senate passed SB 415 requiring cities with low voter turnout to align to the general state election by November 2020. In 2017 the City of Whittier aligned its election to the state. Voter turnout tripled (as seen in the below chart) in 2020. However, the City of Redondo Beach sued the state claiming it should not apply to charter cities and won. Thus, the Whittier City Council reverted to the off-cycle April election, despite the opposition of many Whittier residents. The result in 2022 was low voter turnout again.

The off-cycle April election gives incumbents an advantage due to low voter turnout and keeps them in power.  The City only provides two voting centers for its 54,647 registered voters. These voting centers are located in only two out of the four voting districts, yet all of Whittier residents vote during every election because of the at-large mayor position. The city provides little to NO voter education or outreach. This undemocratic advantage tends to target low income, new voters, minorities, disabled, homeless, and the elderly from voting. 

*except the 2020 election, in which the state forced the cities with low voter turnout to align its election with the state, tripling voter turnout.