Kim Mack’s announcement to run for City Council District 2 was met with some fallout related to an incident in 2009 that is still on the minds of many in the Sacramento area – an incident that could come back to haunt her in the race to unseat incumbent City Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy. Mack officially joined the election race in October. Her previous campaign experience included managing a grassroots support effort for the Obama presidential campaign. In 2009 she was involved with the Sacramentans for Accountable Government effort to put a Strong Mayor Initiative on the ballot. In January 2009, emails in support of the strong mayor initiative were sent to people on an email list that orig

Less than 24 hours after the Sacramento City Council barred the city attorney from drafting language for Mayor Kevin Johnson’s updated strong mayor proposal, Johnson was expected to attend a fundraiser Wednesday night in East Sacramento to press for a strong mayor form of government. Shawn Callahan, who works for Johnson’s strong mayor campaign, said Wednesday that the fundraiser had been planned before last night’s City Council vote. Johnson is scheduled to appear at the fundraiser, which will take place in the wake of the council’s 7-2 vote to reject Johnson’s ideas, according to Callahan. Callahan said more RSVPs for the fundraiser came in after last night’s vote. “We’re happy to see

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has not been deterred by two court rulings that prevent his strong mayor initiative from being placed on the June ballot. His latest strategy is to ask the City Council to place a new strong mayor proposal on the ballot. But Johnson’s new plan, which he announced on his blog Monday afternoon, cannot include the existing strong mayor initiative. That's because Sacramento Superior Court Judge Loren McMaster struck down the initiative last month, saying it broke state law. Johnson's blog entry does not explain the components of his new proposal. He described his new plan as a "collaborative executive mayor reform package." Joaquin McPeek, Johnson's spokesman,

In a day of twists and turns for the strong mayor initiative, the biggest event was summed up in five words: “Petition summarily denied by order." The 3rd District Court of Appeal earlier today published a ruling that prevents the measure from being placed on the June ballot. This means the Court of Appeal chose not to temporarily halt the Sacramento Superior Court decision that struck down the initiative. “I’m very disappointed by the decision, and that’s putting it mildly," Mayor Kevin Johnson said in a press statement. "At the same time, I’m inspired like never before to fight for the people of Sacramento. Today, citizens have been denied their right to vote and accountability has b

While the strong mayor initiative is in the midst of a court battle, a second measure from the group that wrote the strong mayor proposal is much less controversial. At its Tuesday meeting, the City Council supported a proposal to create an independent budget analyst’s office. Councilman Steve Cohn said he thinks the council members “all agree there’s a need” for an independent budget analyst. The budget analyst proposal is separate from the strong mayor initiative, but both plans were written by the Sacramentans for Accountable Government (SAG) group. Council members asked staff to bring back a resolution so the council could vote to put the measure on the June ballot. The council al

Developments affecting Mayor Kevin Johnson’s strong mayor initiative have been highly controversial and complex. Several entities have weighed in on the initiative, including the Sacramento City Council, the Sacramento County Superior Court and the Sacramento Charter Review Committee. Government officials, attorneys and citizens have interpreted the initiative in a variety of ways. Here’s a road map to make sense of some of the key events in the strong mayor debate: Johnson’s Day One Plan: Before taking office, Johnson promotes a strong mayor form of government in his “Day One” plan. An executive mayor system would mean that one leader would be accountable, Johnson says. “Explore a cha

The Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce on Thursday endorsed the strong mayor initiative going before primary election voters next summer. Following study by a task force, the business association voiced support for an executive mayor with more power than the current city charter allows. The initiative's passage would change the form of city government that was established in 1921, according to the chamber. "The city of Sacramento deserves a government structure that is effective and accountable," said Matt Mahood, president and chief executive officer of the chamber, in a press conference at chamber headquarters. The press conference was held about a week after several local u

The Sacramento Charter Review Committee decided Monday to adopt its draft recommendation that the city continue to use its council/manager system of government. This means that the 11-member committee’s final recommendation to the City Council will oppose a “strong mayor” form of government. The committee will deliver its final recommendations to the City Council on Nov. 3. An initiative to create a strong mayor system that would give the mayor many new powers will go before voters in June. Mayor Kevin Johnson backs the initiative, which was led by Sacramentans for Accountable Government. The committee also suggested that the city change its system for hiring the city manager. Currently

As the “strong mayor” issue rages on, the Sacramento City Council is also examining a significant proposal from voters to set up an independent budget analyst's office. The council asked city staffers Tuesday to prepare a workshop to explain how an office for the independent budget analyst could possibly be consolidated with the city’s internal auditor office. City Treasurer Russ Fehr wrote in an Aug. 25 report that the independent budget analyst would report to the City Council and offer suggestions for changes separate from the city’s budget office. The city is looking at an office of three full-time employees. About $500,000 would pay for the employees‘ salaries, equipment, supplies a

Friday, the group organizing the campaign to provide Sacramento’s mayor with more power delivered to City Hall signatures of residents who favor a “strong mayor” city government. The paperwork that contained the signatures filled 13 boxes, said acting city spokeswoman Wendy Klock-Johnson. The idea of changing Sacramento’s current “council-manager” system to a “strong mayor” format continues to be controversial. The group, Sacramentans for Accountable Government, brought signatures to City Hall to meet requirements to put the “strong mayor” proposal on an upcoming ballot. Mayor Kevin Johnson supports the "strong mayor" campaign. At the same time, the city’s Charter Review Committee is exa

The Sacramento Bee reported on Wednesday, June 3 that Mayor Kevin Johnson is relaunching his campaign to change the city's charter from a shared governance model to a strong mayor model. Sacramentans for Accountable Government (SAG), the organization coordinating the campaign, intends to submit petition signatures to the city by June 28. Most likely, the issue will not make the ballot until June 2010. Sacramentans for Accountable Government was formed by Johnson supporters and is largely funded by local real estate developers. In January 2009, Kim Mack (who was the Director of Sacramento for Obama) received a great deal of flack for sharing contact information of Obama volunteers with the

The ambition of local leaders and city crises are two reasons cities choose to give their mayors more power, an expert on city governments told a Sacramento committee Monday. The Charter Review Committee is analyzing the rules in the city’s charter. The city charter is similar to a constitution. The 11-member committee is researching the idea of changing city government to a “strong mayor” format that would give the mayor new powers. The committee is examining both the “strong mayor” system, and the city’s existing “council-manager” system. Mayor Kevin Johnson backs the campaign by the Sacramentans for Accountable Government group to bring a “strong mayor” system to Sacramento. Committ