Tom Murphy of the county government watchdog Red Brennan Group recently sat down with Z107.7s Gary Daigneault on the regular Friday Up Close Show.
Murphy discussed ballot measure D which country voters will have a chance to vote for or against on the November 8 General Election ballot. Murphy discusses Measure D, which has been described as a way for county supervisors to bury a 2020 ballot measure that voters passed with a super majority.
The 2020 election’s county measure K limited supervisors to a single four-year term and set an annual salary cap of $60,000, far below the quarter-million-dollar compensation package they currently enjoy. More than two-thirds of county voters approved that ballot measure. So why are county supervisors still bringing home big checks and running for second, third, and fourth terms?
Murphy explained:
“What really should be concerning to your listeners is the board of supervisors actions once that passed. They voted five-zero, again, to take that to court. And it’s been, if you will, grinding through the courts. So with the voter-approved ballot measure tied up in court, Murphy said, county supervisors cleared the path for a competing measure on the upcoming ballot.
Measure D carries the unlikely title, “AMENDMENTS TO THE COUNTY CHARTER FOR TAXPAYER PROTECTION AND GOVERNMENT REFORM.”
Measure D with relevant sections highlighted may be found at RedBrennan.org under “Vote No on D.” If voters approve it, the measure will lock in supervisor terms at no more than 16 years, and retain their six-figure salaries. It will also send the real reforms voters approved in 2020 into obscurity.
Listen to the full episode here:
