Board rejects charter amendment to move mayor, sheriff and other elections to even years

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on July 8, 2008 voted down a proposed charter amendment that would have moved the election cycle for mayor, sheriff, district attorney, city attorney and treasurer to even-numbered years and amended the definition of general municipal elections.

The clerk read Item 6, a charter amendment proposed to change the election cycle for specified citywide offices. In the roll call vote, the clerk recorded four ayes and six noes; President Peskin announced, "The charter amendment is not submitted."

Shortly after the vote, Supervisor McGoldrick asked that the recorded vote be rescinded and moved to continue the related item for one week to allow further discussion. The motion to rescind was made and seconded on the floor and adopted without objection; later the board continued the related charter items for one week.

Action: Item 6 (charter amendment changing election cycle) failed on roll call, recorded as 4 ayes, 6 noes; subsequent motion to rescind the vote and continue related charter matters was made on the floor and the board continued the items for one week.

The proposal would have shifted the timing of several citywide elections to even-numbered years but did not reach the required approval in this session. Because charter changes often require additional readings and, in some cases, voter approval, supporters on the dais indicated they planned further work off the floor before returning the matter to the board.

The board also continued multiple other charter amendment items and related proposals to the July 22 meeting to provide time for committee consideration and refinement.