Loomis council calls March ballot measure to make town clerk an appointed position

The Loomis Town Council voted to place a March ballot question before voters asking whether the town clerk position should change from elected to appointive. Town Manager Wes (Wes Heathcock) told the council that the clerk’s duties have grown substantially and that the municipal code’s minimal eligibility requirements for an elected clerk (age 18 and residency) no longer match the technical and regulatory demands of the job.

Staff recommended the measure after describing the complexity of current clerk responsibilities and the need for consistent, professionally trained staff to manage records, ordinances and other statutory tasks. The staff report noted Loomis is one of the few jurisdictions in the county that still elects its clerk and suggested appointment would allow recruitment of candidates with required training and experience.

The current elected town clerk, participating remotely, said she began serving in 1988 and described long-standing staff duties including minute-preparation, ordinance processing and custody of the town seal. She said the elected role has been largely ceremonial in practice and stated she supports moving to an appointed model.

Public commenters and several council members raised questions about implementation, including who would appoint the clerk (by default state law places appointment authority with the council, though the council may delegate to the town manager), transition timing, and the cost to put a measure on the March ballot (staff estimated $30,000–$60,000 depending on ballot consolidation). Supporters, including former councilmember Miguel, argued the clerk is now a professional staff role that should be filled by a qualified hire rather than an elected candidate with no required qualifications.

After a public discussion and a motion to adopt staff’s recommended ballot language, the council voted in favor of calling the March election on the question. Councilmembers recorded their votes by roll call and the motion passed.

If voters approve the measure and the council later adopts the necessary ordinance, the appointed clerk would be recruited as a town employee through a staff-level hiring process; current staffing and deputy arrangements would be adjusted to maintain continuity. The council did not set the appointment process in detail at the meeting; staff said those specifics (whether council or manager appoints) would be addressed later if voters approve the change.