Santa Ana : Council Appoints Panel on Government Change

The City Council has appointed a 15-member commission to examine proposed changes in city government that could be put before the voters next November.

However, members of a citizens group that proposed the changes refused to serve on the commission because they want the measures put before the voters in June. Jim Lowman, spokesman for Santa Ana Merged Society of Neighbors, said group members want the changes put to the electorate in June so they could take effect by the November election.

The possible changes include direct election of a mayor and ward elections of council members.

Lowman said members of his group hope to begin gathering signatures this weekend in an effort to put a proposition on the ballot in June. “I think (the commission) will be meaningless,” he said.

Each of the seven council members selected two appointees, and Mayor Daniel E. Griset added chairman Greg Sanders. The other 14 members include former mayors Vern Evans and John Garthe. Others are Joanne Lechner, Joseph Magadino, Ruben Martinez, Katherine Quirk, Mickey Madden, Susan Stuart, John Hanna, Mike Silvas, John Casteix, Susan Tully, Peter Muth and Sara Broadbent.