Yes on Measure K is about government accountability. Oceanside’s current system of electing our City Treasurer and City Clerk does not allow for proper vetting of candidates. In fact, the only requirements are to be an Oceanside resident, 18 years of age or older and to be able to win an election.
Our current City treasurer was not elected on a platform of relevant skills and qualifications. In fact, he had no experience that qualified him for this position.
The positions of Treasurer and Clerk hold a great deal of responsibility and should not come down to a popularity contest. The Treasurer and Clerk should be hired by our City Manager after a thorough vetting process to ensure that the most highly qualified candidates are selected. In the case of the City of Oceanside, our Treasurer is responsible for a $350 million investment portfolio. What I found to be compelling was a 2010 paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research which concluded that “an appointed rather than elected city treasurer reduces city borrowing costs by 13% to 23%.”
Oceanside’s financial future is at stake and we must not leave it to chance.
Our City Clerk serves as our compliance officer for federal, state and local statutes. Without the right skills and training, our City Clerk could create serious problems for our City. Our former elected City Clerk, Zack Beck endorses Measure K and signed the ballot argument in favor of the measure.
I strongly disagree with the notion that Measure K somehow reduces the voting power of our citizens. Even with the conversion of these positions from elected to appointed, the Oceanside voter still maintains ultimate control of the direction of the City through the election of our Mayor and Councilmembers.
Please join me in voting yes on Measure K for better government accountability.
Scott Ashton
CEO, Oceanside Chamber of Commerce
Letters to the Editor- Yes on Measure K
February 20, 2020