San Diego’s experiment with the strong mayor form of government is coming to an end. This summer voters will get to decide whether to keep the system or not.
The San Diego City Council will act today to put the strong mayor form of government on the June 8th ballot. San Diegans voted to try out the system in 2004. Now they have to decide whether to make it permanent. City Council President Ben Hueso says voters are essentially being asked how they want the city to be run.
“Should the mayor be someone that should be held accountable in terms of how the policies of the council are implemented? That was a difference in the old form of government,” he says. “It’s going to be a question of how they want to oversee their government.”
If the strong mayor format is approved the city will also add a ninth council district to prevent tie votes on the city council. If it’s rejected, San Diego will return to a city manager style of government with the city council largely in control.
