They walked out onto the stage at the gym at Genevieve Didion Elementary, each wearing suits and ties. They weren’t clammed up, having talked to various people in the crowd prior to taking the stage. Each of them was familiar with the neighborhood, and had a desire to represent it. Current City Councilmember Robbie Watters, retired Sacramento Police Captain Darrell Fong, and Sacramento State professor Ryan Chin all participated in Thursday night’s Sacramento City Council 7th District Candidate Forum, organized by the Didion-Lewis Park Recreation Center Committee. And once they took their seats, none of them could escape responding to questions about the Strong Mayor Initiative, acrimony a

Mayor Kevin Johnson has abandoned his effort to put his latest “strong mayor” proposal on the June ballot, saying there is not enough support from council members. Johnson said he now plans to start campaigning to place the proposal on the November ballot. He also cited the city’s budget deficit as a reason to delay the initiative to November. “There’s not a lot of appetite from council members to put it on the ballot in June,” Johnson said. “Secondly, we had a budget workshop last week on Thursday and we have some significant challenges that we need to deal with going forward.” He said he will ask the City Council at tonight’s meeting to consider placing the proposal on the November ba

Today the Mayor pushed the City Council to put a new Strong Mayor Initiative on the ballot within the next two weeks. Rushing a proposal to the ballot without time for vetting or community involvement is bad government and bad politics. If we change the way our government operates, it should be focused on more community involvement and more open, transparent government. The process through which we pursue change should reflect those values. Changing our City’s Constitution is not something we should take lightly. The process matters. An open, transparent, process that involves the community and all stake holders will lead to a sound, responsible policy that reflects our community and our

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

After months of exhaustive review, the League of Women Voters of Sacramento County has announced its opposition to the so-called “Strong Mayor Initiative” that Mayor Kevin Johnson is pushing for the June 2010 ballot. “SAVE Sacramento is proud to have the League of Women Voters join us in opposition to the Strong Mayor Initiative. This independent, non-partisan organization is extremely well-respected by most voters for its thoughtful, reasonable review process and the resulting positions it takes on the issues. We are pleased that the League came to the same conclusion that we did – that the Strong Mayor Initiative would grant the mayor an unprecedented level of power, opens the door t

The judge considering a lawsuit in Sacramento County Superior Court over the “strong mayor” initiative has released an initial ruling saying that the initiative should not be placed on the June 2010 ballot. This is not the judge’s final decision on the case. The strong mayor initiative would give Mayor Kevin Johnson many new powers. Judge Loren McMaster noted that he analyzed the argument that the public has a right to participate in initiatives. “The Court recognizes the right of the people to vote on initiative measures,” the judge wrote. “The Court does not lightly dismiss such, and has taken this very important right in consideration in ruling on the matter.” But the judge wrote th

The Stonewall Democratic Club of Greater Sacramento’s voter forum on the Strong Mayor Initiative served as the unofficial kickoff to the 2010 June Election season. Monday, over one hundred Sacramentans listened as the pros and cons of the Strong Mayor Initiative were debated and the majority and minority perspectives on the Charter Review Commission’s report were discussed. “I’m ecstatic about the turnout. It once again shows Sacramentans are committed to civic engagement," Stonewall President Chris Moore said. "Far too often very substantial changes to public policy are made via the ballot box without appropriate vetting. Tonight we’re trying to give more opportunity for folks to conside

The union that represents Sacramento police officers is supporting Mayor Kevin Johnson’s “strong mayor” initiative, saying it would give the mayor the power to guarantee sufficient public safety funding. Meanwhile, Bill Camp, the plaintiff who challenged the initiative in a Dec. 1 lawsuit, said a strong mayor form of government could lead to job insecurity for police department employees who are not represented by unions. Camp is the executive secretary of the Sacramento Central Labor Council. He filed the lawsuit as a private citizen. Sacramento residents will vote on the initiative on June 10. The initiative would give the mayor many new powers and would change the city’s existing coun

When a group of opponents to the “strong mayor” initiative talked to reporters earlier this month, a spontaneous debate over the initiative took place between two local veteran politicos. Steve Maviglio, public affairs consultant and Mayor Kevin Johnson’s unpaid spokesman, sparred with Phil Giarrizzo, a political consultant who is working for the camp that opposes the strong mayor initiative. Johnson, who leads the campaign for the initiative, would attain new powers if it passes. He would assume the duties of the city manager and create the city’s budget, among other responsibilities. Johnson's campaign says that more than 50,000 people signed petitions to put the initiative on the ball

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

Former Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo said she has been considering running for re-election. In news that would be welcome to many who still call her by her honorary title, Fargo said Friday she has thought about running for the seat she lost a year ago to former NBA star Kevin Johnson. "I have," she said. "Mainly because I'm asked all the time. "It was clearly a great honor to be elected mayor. It was very painful, very challenging and incredibly rewarding at the same time," she said during one of her first media interviews since leaving office. It's far too soon to say whether she will run in the 2012 mayoral election, Fargo said. However, she may want more challenge than the behind-

Michelle Smira, a Republican strategist and consultant to mayor Kevin Johnson, resigned from her position on October 22. Below is her letter of resignation: Dear Mayor Johnson, It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve as a volunteer in your office, the Office of the Mayor. The opportunity to serve as your liaison to various organizations and to meet with constituents on your behalf has been very rewarding. Thank you for this opportunity. I believe strongly that the people of Sacramento voted overwhelmingly for you to represent us as Mayor because we wanted change. What has become apparent is that we desperately need change. I will be stepping away as a volunteer in your official offic

Sierra II in Curtis Park was the location for the ninth and final Town Hall Meeting of the City of Sacramento Charter Review Committee. The crowd of approximately 45 people was on the Baby Boom-plus end of the generational scale. It included members of the public, neighborhood representatives and former, current and candidate public officials, from the Central City, Curtis/Land Park, Oak Park and the South Area. The City Charter legally and procedurally defines the City of Sacramento and its operations. Kevin Johnson's Strong Mayor Initiative, which would dramatically change the City Charter, will be on the June 2010 ballot. Sacramento was founded with a City Charter in 1858. In 1921, d

The city’s Charter Review Committee has released its draft recommendations on the “strong mayor” issue. It suggests that the city maintain its current council/manager form of government. Read the committee’s draft recommendations here.  The committee’s draft recommends that the mayor should continue to serve as a voting member of the City Council. The mayor would not have the ability to veto the City Council’s decisions, according to the draft report. “The separation of an executive mayor tends to diminish the authority that is very clear in the City Council and the unified accountability in a parliamentary system (unified executive and legislative branches) is highly desirable,” the com

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