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Ridgecrest residents press council over ballot language for Measure B and term‑limit reset concerns
Summary
Multiple commenters told the council that ballot language for Measure B (term‑limit clarification) contains typographical errors and could unintentionally reset or extend service lengths; the city manager said the measure is intended to let voters decide how appointments count and to place current members in their 'first term'.
Residents raised repeated concerns at the April 1 Ridgecrest City Council meeting about the wording of two ballot initiatives, saying typographical errors and phrasing could create ambiguous term lengths and effectively extend council members’ time in office.
Tom Whitnik (called "Tom" in public comment) told the council the initiative still contains wording referencing the city of "Filillmore" on county election materials and warned that defining a term as a fixed number of years could create an undefined or unintended mayoral term if companion measures resolve differently.
Jamie Jones and Daniel Neil echoed criticisms about transparency and drafting errors, with Jones urging the council to explain whether the measures have been corrected on Kern County records. “You’re going to be winding up with an undefined term of two years,” Whitnik said, pressing the council to indicate whether it would act to fix or withdraw flawed language.
City Manager addressed the concern during the manager’s report, saying Measures B and C are separate and intended to return to voters the decision of how appointments count toward term limits, not to extend terms automatically. The manager said staff’s proposed approach would place all current members into their “first term” under the clarified code and that 2026 would be the starting point for the updated language. “The intent is straightforward. Return the power of choice to the public,” the manager said.
Council did not vote on changes to the measures during the meeting. Several speakers requested the council publicly state its position now; council members emphasized that formal ballot language changes typically require staff and legal steps and that voters ultimately decide.
Next steps: the city manager’s office and legal counsel will continue to review the drafting concerns; residents requested clear public communication and timely correction if county election materials remain incorrect.
