BALLOT MEASURE 4-425: Requires Council Approval of Mayor’s Appointments and Removals
Question: Shall the Astoria City Charter require Council approval before the Mayor appoints or removes committee members and other appointees?
THE BALLOT MEASURE. Summary: This measure amends Section 5.1 of the City Charter. Currently, the Mayor appoints members of Council committees and other persons required by the Council to be appointed. The Mayor may also remove those appointees.
The amendment would require the advice and consent of the City Council before the Mayor may appoint members of Council committees or other persons required by the Council to be appointed. The amendment would also require the advice and consent of the Council before the Mayor may remove those appointees.
The measure shifts appointment and removal authority from the Mayor acting alone to a process requiring approval by the City Council. Other duties and powers of the Mayor and Council would remain unchanged.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR ASTORIANS.: LESS AUTHORITY FOR YOUR MAYOR. MORE POWER FOR COUNCIL.
What does Astoria gain?
Another layer of approval guarantees more process—not better appointments.
Under Astoria’s current Charter, the Mayor appoints and may remove members of Council committees and other appointees covered by Section 5.1. Responsibility is clear: the Mayor makes these decisions and is accountable to voters for them.
Measure 4-245 would require City Council approval before the Mayor could appoint or remove these officials.
IT SHIFTS AUTHORITY FROM THE MAYOR TO COUNCIL
Astoria voters citywide elect the Mayor. Councilors represent individual wards. Measure 4-245 would allow Council to block appointment and removal decisions made by the Mayor, even though the Mayor is elected by voters across the entire city.
Why should the Mayor need Council’s permission to exercise authority currently assigned to the Mayor by the Charter?
MORE COUNCIL CONTROL DOESN’T MEAN MORE PUBLIC CONTROL
This measure does not give residents another vote. It gives Council another vote.
A qualified candidate could be rejected because Council disagrees with the Mayor. An appointee the Mayor believes should be removed could remain if Council refuses approval. That makes accountability less clear: if the Mayor wants someone removed and Council says no, who is responsible for the outcome?
MORE PROCESS. MORE POTENTIAL FOR DELAY.
Every appointment and removal covered by Measure 4-245 would require another Council decision—adding another procedural step and another opportunity for disagreement or delay.
What evidence shows this additional approval will produce better appointments or better government?
A CHARTER CHANGE SHOULD SOLVE A PROBLEM
Changing Astoria’s Charter should solve a demonstrated problem and provide a clear public benefit.
Before changing our Charter, voters should ask: What problem does Measure 4-245 solve? How will this change solve it? What will Astoria residents gain?
KEEP AUTHORITY CLEAR. KEEP ACCOUNTABILITY CLEAR.
VOTE NO ON MEASURE 4-245