Proposal creates an elected County Executive, expands the Board of Supervisors, requires a County Ethics Commission, and more.

July 3, 2024

Los Angeles, CA – Today, Los Angeles County Board Chair Lindsey P. Horvath and her colleague, Supervisor Janice Hahn, announced significant reforms to create a more representative, accountable, and effective Los Angeles County government.

The Supervisors held a press conference this morning to unveil the most comprehensive governance reform in over 100 years, which they hope to put in front of voters this November. The package—to be voted on by the Board of Supervisors at the July 9 Board meeting—includes creating an elected County Executive; expanding the Board of Supervisors from five to nine; and common-sense ethics reforms to bring more transparency and accountability to County government.

“Los Angeles County’s government structure has remained the same since 1912, before women even had the right to vote! Now is the time to take on what has been necessary for decades: comprehensive governance reform for Los Angeles County,” said Board Chair Lindsey P. Horvath. “Our communities deserve a more representative government with a foundation of transparency that brings them to the decision-making table. Los Angeles is ready for meaningful structural change to take on the significant challenges impacting Angelenos today. With the 2030 Census on the horizon, and a Board of women leaders looking to the future, this is a once in a generation opportunity to act.”

“Our districts have been too big for too long, and I think there is finally an appetite among voters for change,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “In a county as large and as diverse as ours, we need more seats at the table. By expanding the Board of Supervisors, allowing voters to elect their County Executive, and putting common-sense ethics reforms in place, I hope we can strengthen LA County government as we take on some of the biggest challenges we face.”

Additional reforms include establishing a commission to review the County Charter every ten years; creating a Director of Budget and Management and a County Legislative Analyst; requiring departments to present their annual budget in open hearings; creating a task force to oversee reform implementation; and that all changes come at no additional costs to or taxes imposed on taxpayers to implement.

The Board motion for July 9 directs County Counsel to draft an ordinance to amend the Los Angeles County Charter, which was adopted in 1912 when the population was 500,000. Today, Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the nation with five supervisors serving two million constituents each. The expanded Board would serve approximately one million constituents each – a number much more in line with county governments in other large metropolitan areas of the United States. This proposed change would also create distinct executive and legislative branches of the government through a directly elected County Executive.

If the ordinance amending the County Charter is approved by the Board in a first and second reading, it can be placed on the November 5, 2024 ballot for voter consideration as a charter amendment ballot measure.

Nearly nine in ten voters think the Los Angeles County government is in need of reform. To learn more about voter sentiment, read this voter survey summary.

The public and media are invited to the Tuesday, July 9 Board of Supervisors meeting at 9:30 a.m. at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration at 500 W. Temple Street.  

WHAT LEADING VOICES ARE SAYING:  

“These moves are about giving power back to our communities. Expanding the Board lets more diverse voices help decide how to use that $46 billion budget,” said Patrisse Cullors, artist and activist. “With an elected County Executive and clear lines of accountability, Los Angeles can truly embrace its Care First vision. Elected leaders ready to share their power for the greater good? That’s almost unheard of, but it’s exactly what LA County needs right now.”

“Following the now infamous leaked tapes scandal at City Hall, my colleagues and I set to work to truly curb the power of city councilmembers so as to best represent the interests of constituents, not themselves,”said LA City Councilmember Nithya Raman.  “Seeing the County follow suit — and go even further than the City has — should give hope to Angelenos everywhere that their voices are being heard loud and clear. I applaud Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Janice Hahn for leading the way toward a more representative Los Angeles.”

“I applaud Supervisor Horvath for helping move these measures forward to expand representation and bring more transparency to our county government,” said Bob Blumenfield, LA City Councilmember. “LA County has a larger population than forty states- it’s time to bring more people into the process and make the critical work that’s done on this level of government more accessible to the public.”

“The creation of an elected County Executive and a modest but meaningful expansion of the Board of Supervisors would be the most transformative improvement in county governance in more than a century,” said Zev Yaroslavsky, former Supervisor for the Third District. “If it was its own state, Los Angeles County would be one of the most populous states in the union. It would be unthinkable for Michigan, Ohio, or North Carolina to rid themselves of their Governors and replace them with a five-member board. When five people are in charge, no one is in charge, and this has been the primary weakness of county governance since World War II. The more than 10 million people of our county deserve to have one elected official accountable to all of its residents from Lancaster to Long Beach and from Claremont to Calabasas.”

“California Community Foundation believes that for a government to be effective it must be accessible and representative at every level,” said Miguel Santana, President and CEO of California Community Foundation. “These reforms pave the way for much-needed change and outline a path toward more representative, equitable and effective governance. CCF will continue to support community organizers, academics, and leaders to ensure that residents across this county play a vital role in creating a more inclusive future.”

“This is an opportunity to create a more representative and effective Los Angeles County government – an endeavor attempted multiple times before,” said Herbert K. Hatanaka, Executive Director, Special Services for Groups, Inc. “It’s rare for a government as large and complex as the County to recognize the need for reform. I applaud Supervisors Horvath and Hahn for leading bold change and hope the Board will support the next steps to bring more diverse voices into County work.”

“Los Angeles County is unlike anywhere else. It’s time to take a hard look at its governance structure to bring it into modern times,” said Jim Butts, Mayor of Inglewood. “As a mayor, I know how important accessibility and representation are. Communities deserve to have close access to their elected representatives and meaningful engagement through transparent processes. I support Supervisors Horvath and Hahn in bringing about these critical reforms.”

“The truth is, our municipal government structures have only undergone superficial reforms in the past 100 years, with the County experiencing almost none,” said David Ryu, former Los Angeles City Councilmember and Executive Director of AAPI Lead. “Voters – Angelenos and Americans – are hungry for honest and fearless leadership, and they are demanding meaningful reform now. Supervisors Horvath and Hahn’s proposed reforms – once passed and implemented – will initiate or realize nearly every reform effort that I and many elected officials before me have tireless pursued unsuccessfully for decades.  It will almost immediately jump-start long-standing reforms in the City of LA that have languished for years and unleash consequential ripple effects across California and potentially the nation.”

“Good governance is about ensuring every community feels represented and valued, and these bold reforms led by Supervisors Horvath and Hahn are a vital step in that direction. For cities like West Hollywood, where equity and inclusion are foundational values, having a more accountable and representative county government is crucial,” said John Erickson, Mayor of West Hollywood. “The creation of an elected County Executive and the expansion of the Board of Supervisors will provide a stronger voice for all residents, from the LGBTQ+ community to our many other vibrant and diverse communities. This is our chance to build a county government that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of communities across Los Angeles.”

“Effective governance must reflect the diversity and complexities of our communities, and this reform is a crucial step towards that goal. For the LGBTQ+ community, which navigates the intersections of race, gender, and economic disparities, these major governance reforms will ensure that our voices are not only heard but are integral to the decision-making process,” said Tony Hoang, Executive Director of Equality California. “We commend Supervisors Horvath and Hahn for championing a more inclusive and accountable governance structure that brings Los Angeles County closer to ensuring equity and justice for all Angelenos.”

“As Mayor of San Fernando, I know government is more effective when all communities have their voices represented. In order for Los Angeles County to meet the unique needs and perspectives of all its residents, we need to ensure our Board of Supervisors truly reflects the diversity of our region,” said Celeste Rodriguez, Mayor of the City of San Fernando. “This reform is essential for building a county where every community, from San Fernando to the furthest corners of LA, feels heard and valued. I support these efforts to create a more inclusive, equitable, and stronger Los Angeles County for all.”

“As a Councilmember, parent and teacher from Monterey Park in LA County, I am glad the LA County Board of Supervisors is considering governance reforms that will lead to better representation and a more transparent budget process,” said Jose Sanchez, Monterey Park City Councilmember.“If passed, this will be a big win for Angelenos, that’s why I support it.”

“Good governance is the cornerstone of a just and equitable society. The proposed reforms led by Supervisors Horvath and Hahn to create an elected County Executive, expand the Board of Supervisors, and strengthen local ethics reforms represent a historic opportunity to enhance accountability and representation for all residents of Los Angeles County,”said Richard Hirschhaut, Los Angeles Director of American Jewish Committee. “This initiative will ensure that every corner of our county, including our Jewish communities across Los Angeles, has a stronger, more direct influence in the decision-making process that shapes our future.”

“As local elected officials, our job is to be accessible to residents and represent their interests, but that becomes more difficult the larger our districts are,” said Jess Rivas, Pasadena City Councilmember.“I am grateful that Supervisor Horvath is leading the way for long overdue County Charter reform, starting with expanding the number of supervisors.”

“The current governance structure of Los Angeles County is broken, and it’s time for meaningful reform. The creation of an elected County Executive and an expanded Board of Supervisors is a crucial step towards fixing this,”said Marissa Roy, President of California Women’s List. “With an all-women Board of Supervisors leading the charge, we have a unique and powerful opportunity to bring more accountability, representation, and effectiveness to our county government. I applaud Supervisors Horvath and Hahn for their visionary leadership in championing these transformative reforms and ensuring that the voice of every Angeleno is heard and valued.”

“As the youngest elected official in the history of Los Angeles County, I recognize the significance of Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath’s important motion,” said Triston Ezidore, Vice President of the Culver City School Board.“Expanding the Board of Supervisors and instituting governance reforms are pivotal for transparency in department budget hearings. These efforts ensure community voices shape fiscal priorities, providing equitable representation and accountability. I applaud Supervisors Horvath and Hahn for taking this pivotal step towards creating a more inclusive and responsive Los Angeles County, where every voice matters in shaping our collective future.”

“We welcome this proposal to update representation and transparency at the County of Los Angeles. Expansion of the Board of the Board of Supervisors is an acknowledgment of the growth in the diversity of communities here in the largest county in terms of population in the United States,” said Henry Lo, Monterey Park City Councilmember. 

“These reforms are long overdue and we appreciate Supervisor Horvath’s leadership today. A budget is a reflection of our County’s values and by creating a more transparent and accountable process and Board of Supervisors, we believe this will result in a more equitable and sustainable County,” said Eli Lipmen, Executive Director of Move LA.

“A more representative, transparent, and responsive government is good for all of the people of Los Angeles County and is consistent with ADL’s mission of pursuing “justice and fair treatment to all.”  Thank you, Supervisors Horvath and Hahn, for putting forward this important motion,” said Jeffrey I. Abrams, Regional Director, ADL Los Angeles.

“Los Angeles County has long needed governance reform to better reflect the diversity of our communities,”said Sasha Renée Pérez, Mayor of Alhambra. “The LA County Board of Supervisors has never had an AAPI member, and despite Latinos comprising nearly 50% of the county, only one Latina Supervisor currently serves. The proposed expansion of the Board of Supervisors is a crucial step towards inclusivity and equitable representation, and I’m grateful to LA County Board Chair Horvath and Supervisor Hahn for co-authoring a motion that will lead to transformative reforms.”

“As a Lynwood City Councilmember, I firmly believe that government should be close to the people and as representative as possible. It’s crucial that every resident feels their voice matters and that they can trust their government,” said Juan Muñoz-Guevara, Lynwood City Councilmember. “The proposed reforms to create an elected County Executive and expand the Board of Supervisors are critical steps toward achieving this. By ensuring that our county government truly reflects the diversity and concerns of our communities, we can restore faith in the democratic process. I applaud Supervisors Horvath and Hahn for their commitment to these reforms, which will bring us closer to a government that works for all residents, promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusivity.”

“The proposed reforms, led by Supervisors Horvath and Hahn, to create an elected County Executive, expand the Board of Supervisors, and strengthen local ethics reforms are vital to serve the many residents of Los Angeles County,” said Dr. Irving Liebovics, Chairman of Agudath Israel of California. “I applaud Supervisors Horvath and Hahn for having the courage to advance this necessary government reform.”

“At Abundant Housing LA, we see every day how vital it is for government to prioritize housing solutions. Los Angeles County’s current governance structure often falls short in addressing our housing needs effectively,” said Azeen Khanmalek, Executive Director of Abundant Housing LA. “By creating an elected County Executive and expanding the Board of Supervisors, we can ensure a more accountable and representative approach to ensure that we are advancing solutions to our housing affordability crisis for all Angelenos. I applaud Supervisors Horvath and Hahn for leading the charge on these necessary changes. With these reforms, we can build a stronger, more responsive Los Angeles County that truly tackles the housing crisis head-on.”

“Sometimes change is needed to meet an evolving community along with the governing body. The expansion of the Supervisor Board Members would allow for greater representation of the ever-expanding Los Angeles County. Progress equals change,” said Cedric L. Hicks, Carson City Councilmember.

“As Vice Mayor of Burbank, I’ve witnessed firsthand the importance of a government that truly represents its people. Unfortunately, Los Angeles County’s current system often leaves many voices on the sidelines,” said Nikki Perez, Vice Mayor of Burbank. “We need these transformative governance reforms to ensure every community, every resident, is heard and valued. I commend Supervisors Horvath and Hahn for championing these necessary changes. It’s high time we create a county government that embodies the diversity and vibrancy of Los Angeles, working effectively for all of our communities.”

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