The largest city in San Bernardino County is considering eliminating its elected mayoral position to replace it with a mayor appointed by the city council.
The San Bernardino City Council scheduled a special public meeting on Monday to draft a charter amendment for the upcoming election in June. A city spokesperson did not say why some councilmembers are moving forward with the plan.
“It raises a lot of concern and questions,” Mayor Helen Tran said.
Tran said the move feels like a personal attack that caught her by surprise since the city council did not alert her of its plans. She added that the appointment of a mayor for a large city rather than an election is puzzling to her.
“Being voted at large, there is a higher chance for accountability,” she said. “For us to be the largest city in the county of San Bernardino, we’re the largest city, and to not have an at-large mayor when other cities in the county have an at-large mayor, that is concerning and questionable to me.”
Tran is the city’s first Asian American mayor. She is wrapping up her four-year term this year. She campaigned to reduce homelessness, protect public health and restore confidence in local government.
On Monday, six of the seven San Bernardino City Councilmembers had either no comment or did not respond to NBC4’s request on the matter.
Councilmember Dr. Treasure Ortiz, who represents the Seventh Ward, said she opposed the decision
“We had a charter change in 2016, so we are now a council-manager form of government vs strong mayor,” Ortiz said. “But then you also look at being the largest city in the County of San Bernardino and what that means, I think we’re the ninth-largest city in the state of California, and what representation really looks like, as well and what the expectation of that is. So, both equally great conversations that nobody had.”
The final decision would ultimately fall on voters during the city’s upcoming June Primary Election.