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DeMaio Brings Rochambeau-Style Reforms to City Council

In the months leading up to his December 8 inauguration to the San Diego City Council, Councilmember-elect Carl DeMaio was outspoken about the role of the city-council president. He believed the position — created in 2004 as part of the "strong mayor" form of government — gave the president too much power over the council and too much influence on the docket.

During several town-hall meetings, DeMaio rebuked outgoing council president Scott Peters for exercising those powers. He accused Peters of “manipulating” future agendas, thereby essentially silencing certain councilmembers from raising their concerns to the public.

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To prevent further abuses of power, DeMaio, along with Councilmember Donna Frye, suggested ways to limit the president’s powers, which would provide equal access to the docket for all councilmembers. They proposed borrowing some methods from the County Board of Supervisors, mainly designating the city clerk as parliamentarian over council meetings, while simultaneously allowing each councilmember a chance to docket items on the agenda.

While changing the role of the president was something for the new council to deliberate on, DeMaio and Frye were successful in convincing outgoing-president Peters to let the incoming council vote for their next president. That vote happened on December 9, one day after DeMaio and his three fellow incoming councilmembers were sworn into office.

During the vote to elect a new council president, DeMaio had one more reform. Instead of deciding between District 8 representative Ben Hueso or District 6 councilmember Donna Frye, DeMaio proposed to elect both of them. Each would serve a one-year term. As for who would serve first, DeMaio proposed to adopt an age-old democratic procedure: the coin toss.

DeMaio jumped from his council seat with a coin in his left hand and outlined the reform measure. The winner of the flip would serve as president the first year and the loser would assume powers the following year.

Unfortunately, no other councilmembers wanted to play along, and DeMaio’s motion was not supported. The council opted for the old-fashioned way: majority vote.

Councilmembers Faulconer, Gloria, Emerald, Hueso, Young, and DeMaio voted in favor of Hueso serving as council president for the next year, while Frye and Lightner supported Frye.

For more of the unorthodox reforms that Councilmember DeMaio has in mind for city government, tune in to CityTV every Monday and Tuesday (Cox and Time Warner Cable channel 24, AT&T channel 99).

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In the months leading up to his December 8 inauguration to the San Diego City Council, Councilmember-elect Carl DeMaio was outspoken about the role of the city-council president. He believed the position — created in 2004 as part of the "strong mayor" form of government — gave the president too much power over the council and too much influence on the docket.

During several town-hall meetings, DeMaio rebuked outgoing council president Scott Peters for exercising those powers. He accused Peters of “manipulating” future agendas, thereby essentially silencing certain councilmembers from raising their concerns to the public.

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To prevent further abuses of power, DeMaio, along with Councilmember Donna Frye, suggested ways to limit the president’s powers, which would provide equal access to the docket for all councilmembers. They proposed borrowing some methods from the County Board of Supervisors, mainly designating the city clerk as parliamentarian over council meetings, while simultaneously allowing each councilmember a chance to docket items on the agenda.

While changing the role of the president was something for the new council to deliberate on, DeMaio and Frye were successful in convincing outgoing-president Peters to let the incoming council vote for their next president. That vote happened on December 9, one day after DeMaio and his three fellow incoming councilmembers were sworn into office.

During the vote to elect a new council president, DeMaio had one more reform. Instead of deciding between District 8 representative Ben Hueso or District 6 councilmember Donna Frye, DeMaio proposed to elect both of them. Each would serve a one-year term. As for who would serve first, DeMaio proposed to adopt an age-old democratic procedure: the coin toss.

DeMaio jumped from his council seat with a coin in his left hand and outlined the reform measure. The winner of the flip would serve as president the first year and the loser would assume powers the following year.

Unfortunately, no other councilmembers wanted to play along, and DeMaio’s motion was not supported. The council opted for the old-fashioned way: majority vote.

Councilmembers Faulconer, Gloria, Emerald, Hueso, Young, and DeMaio voted in favor of Hueso serving as council president for the next year, while Frye and Lightner supported Frye.

For more of the unorthodox reforms that Councilmember DeMaio has in mind for city government, tune in to CityTV every Monday and Tuesday (Cox and Time Warner Cable channel 24, AT&T channel 99).

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San Diego Reader 2024 Music & Arts Issue

Favorite fakers: Baby Bushka, Fleetwood Max, Electric Waste Band, Oceans, Geezer – plus upcoming tribute schedule
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Events March 29-March 30, 2024
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4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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