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Public comment centers on election‑integrity charter amendment and county litigation; board reports closed‑session initiation of litigation
Summary
Dozens of public speakers urged the Board to drop litigation challenging a citizen charter amendment on election rules; the board later reported in closed session that it had authorized initiation of litigation related to labor‑relations matters.
More than 40 members of the public used the board’s open‑time public comment period Tuesday to press the Board of Supervisors on a charter amendment proposed by residents that would impose local election‑integrity measures. Many speakers urged the board to drop a county legal challenge and allow voters to decide the matter at the ballot box.
Speakers repeatedly asked the board to “drop the lawsuit,” to allow county counsel to prepare the ballot title and summary, or to appoint outside counsel to prepare a title and summary if the county attorney would not. Linda Glass, a resident who spoke during public comment, said the petitioners had followed the initiative process and asked the board to “drop the lawsuit and allow the citizens to decide for themselves.” Jim Burnett, another frequent commenter, told the board the county had a duty to preserve local self‑government.
Several county officials and presenters also used public comment to raise other policy concerns, including post office changes affecting rural mail service and calls for transparency in county‑funded programs.
Later in the meeting the board recessed to closed session. When the board returned, County Counsel reported that R10 (litigation matter) had been heard and that the board had voted 5‑0 to authorize the initiation of litigation with the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) matter described in staff materials. The board’s closed‑session summary stated R9 was heard with no reportable action.
Supervisors said the litigation matter concerned labor and employee notification rights and was not an expression of anti‑union sentiment; several supervisors emphasized the board’s stated interest in protecting employee free‑speech notifications.
The public‑comment episode illustrates the depth of local interest in election‑integrity proposals and the political sensitivity of county legal actions. Multiple commenters urged more transparency, reimbursement of legal fees to affected residents and public discussion before county legal action.
