Measure V – Watsonville commission service
Measure V on the Nov. 5 ballot asks whether members of Watsonville’s boards and commissions must be registered voters. The measure would remove a requirement in the city charter for board and commission members to be registered voters, and open boards to non-U.S. citizens and residents younger than 18.
The city’s boards and commissions are advisory bodies that make recommendations to Watsonville City Council.
What is Measure V, the Watsonville commission measure?
Measure V would change the city charter’s to allow residents who are not registered to vote to serve on city advisory boards and commissions.
What does a “yes” vote mean?
A “yes” vote would amend Watsonville’s charter to allow any Watsonville resident to serve on city boards and commissions. Currently, board and commission members must be registered voters. Voting “yes” would allow non-U.S. citizens to serve.
What would a “no” vote mean?
A “no” vote would keep the current rule that people who serve on Watsonville commissions must be registered voters.
Background on Watsonville boards and commissions
City boards and commissions are advisory bodies that make recommendations to the city council. Appointments must be approved by the city council.
Watsonville has four boards and commissions:
- Planning Commission.
- Personnel Commission.
- Parks and Recreation Commission.
- Board of Library Trustees.
The city charter excludes non-U.S. citizens and residents younger than 18 from serving on city boards and commissions.
About 22% of Watsonville residents are not American citizens and are ineligible to vote, according to 2022 American Community Survey census data.
In 2021, reports for the city and county of Santa Cruz found that Latinos, renters and other groups were underrepresented on advisory bodies and commissions. The city and county have since made efforts to attract a greater diversity of commissioners.
Arguments for Measure V
At a June 26 Watsonville City Council meeting, many residents and nonprofit representatives said Watsonville’s non-citizen residents should be represented in city politics.
“We work with thousands of Watsonville residents — all taxpayers — and many are small-business owners who are unable to vote due to circumstances beyond their control,” said Brandon Sención, a program director at Santa Cruz Community Ventures and a Watsonville planning commissioner. “Including their voices can only strengthen our policies and improve our local government’s ability to meet the needs of the entire community,” Sención said.
At the June council meeting, Watsonville Mayor Quiroz-Carter, Mayor Pro Tempore Maria Orozco and Councilmembers Eduardo Montesino, Kristal Salcido and Jimmy Dutra all spoke in support of the ballot measure.
“There are people that do not register to vote for one reason or another,” Quiroz-Carter said. “They own businesses, they spend tax dollars, they live here. They should be able to make decisions as well,” she said.
In a ballot argument for Measure V, Salcido and Orozco wrote that by requiring commissioners to be voters, “we inadvertently exclude valuable insight of dedicated residents who wish to contribute to their community, and who embrace the shared commitment we all have to our community’s progress and well-being,” they wrote.
The measure “allows every resident — whether a long-time community member or a young person eager to inform change — an opportunity to influence policy, contribute ideas, and lend their expertise,” they wrote.
Arguments against Measure V
Watsonville City Councilmembers Ari Parker and Casey Clark said non-voters should remain ineligible for the planning and personnel commissions.
In a statement against Measure V, Parker and Clark wrote that non-voters “do not demonstrate the same level of dedication to our community, compromising their commitment to local issues.” The measure would “dilute the voice of Watsonville’s voters,” and allow non-voters to make important financial and policy decisions, they wrote.
At the June 16 Watsonville City Council meeting, Clark said that an applicant’s residency in Watsonville may be difficult to confirm, potentially opening city commissions to residents of other areas.
What is the text of Measure V?
“Shall the measure amending the Charter of the City of Watsonville to modify the eligibility requirement for appointment to all Boards and Commissions created pursuant to the Watsonville Charter from registered voter to resident of the City of Watsonville be adopted?”