Santa Ana OKs Proposition for Election by Wards

A Santa Ana City Council-authored proposition that would reduce the number of wards to six and establish an elected mayor will go to the voters in November.

The proposition is an alternative to another already on the ballot. That proposal, written by a coalition of citizen groups, would establish ward elections for the seven existing council seats (council members currently represent wards but are elected on a citywide basis) and a mayor elected citywide and separated from the council.

Councilman John Acosta said he did not realize that the council’s proposal had already been approved on Aug. 4 and was merely coming up for a routine second vote Monday, which produced the 6-1 approval. He cast the dissenting vote.

Acosta said he believes that the city will continue to increase in population and that the wards should therefore be increased to eight, rather than reduced to six.