Enlarging the County Board

Thank you for pointing out in your editorial (“Why the Gang of Five Isn’t Enough,” Dec. 6) that the current redistricting options being considered by the Board of Supervisors do not go far enough. We agree that five people cannot adequately represent the 8.5 million people of Los Angeles County and that the board must be enlarged.

We also believe that the current structure deprives Los Angeles County of effective, accountable leadership and promotes waste and inefficiency. The Board of Supervisors (whatever its size) should not carry all the executive and legislative power to run the $9-billion enterprise that is county government. The Constitution requires other levels of government to separate those powers so that the public good is protected by a series of checks and balances. A strong countywide elected executive officer would provide leadership and accountability, and an enlarged board would provide better representation and more thorough, public deliberation of the issues facing this, the most diverse and populous county.

The League of Women Voters calls upon the Board of Supervisors to stop wasting tax dollars fighting the lawsuit and agree to a settlement that enlarges the board (nine would be better than seven). At the same time, the board should place on the ballot a change in the charter to establish an elected county executive.

JUDY BORASH

President

BONNIE ARMSTRONG

Chair, County Government

Reform Steering Committee

League of Women Voters