Despite persistent rumors throughout the county, the
controversial slow-growth initiative will not be on the Oct. 7
recall ballot because it would be illegal to do so, county election
officials said Thursday.
County Counsel Karen Forcum said a state law declares a local
measure like the San Benito County Slow-Growth Initiative can only
be added to a special election within four days of the election’s
date being announced.
Despite persistent rumors throughout the county, the controversial slow-growth initiative will not be on the Oct. 7 recall ballot because it would be illegal to do so, county election officials said Thursday.
County Counsel Karen Forcum said a state law declares a local measure like the San Benito County Slow-Growth Initiative can only be added to a special election within four days of the election’s date being announced.
Since that was not accomplished, it is too late to place the measure on the recall ballot.
San Benito County Clerk John Hodges, who asked for Forcum’s legal opinion shortly after the date of the recall was announced, said with only two months to go before the special election, there was not enough time to include the county initiative.
“Normally it takes six months to prepare for an election. Now, we have to do it in 60 days,” Hodges said.
He said it would be difficult to change the date of the election because it was specifically set by a resolution approved by the Board of Supervisors
“The reason it is not going on the ballot is it’s designed to go on the March 2, election of 2004,” Hodges said.
And, local voters will not have to worry about other statewide initiatives clogging up the ballot.
“What we are doing right now is strictly recall and we just don’t have the whereabouts to put anything on the ballot other than the recall,” Hodges said.
Not placing the initiative on the October ballot was something that both opponents and supporters of the growth control measure agreed on.
Both members of the Citizens for Responsible Growth in San Benito County and the Farmers and Citizens to Protect our Agricultural Heritage were glad to hear that the initiative would not be on up for election in October.
“We have not pushed for that,” said Janet Brians, spokeswoman for the Responsible Growth committee. “There has not been anyone on the committee moving for that. We need time for more informational forums and to get our message out.”
The slow-growth initiative has sparked a communitywide debate on the future of the county and the direction of local growth.
In an effort to tone down some of the divisive rhetoric that has sprung up as a result, local ranchers Joe and Julie Morris put together a consensus building workshop in early July. And the couple is currently working to schedule another workshop. The time and place have not yet been set.
The Oct. 7 election to recall Gov. Gray Davis is expected to carry an estimated price tag of $100,000 for the county.
