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CC - 1971 - 10 - Opposing Legislative AlterationCITY OF ROSEMEAD RESOLUTION NO. 71-10 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD OPPOSING LEGISLATIVE ALTERATION OF THE EXISTING REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR NOMINATION TO AN ELECTIVE OFFICE IN A GENERAL LAW CITY. WHEREAS, the Election Code of the State of California presently establishes that any person may be nominated for an elective office in a general law city upon filing of a peti- tion signed by five registered voters, and without incurring the financial burden of paying a filing fee; and WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association has directed a letter to all state legislators requesting legislation that would authorize general law cities to impose a substantial filing fee on all nominations for elective offices, allow general law cities to increase the number of voters required to sign a nomination petition, and to otherwise establish their own requirements and procedures for presentation of nomination petitions; and ' WHEREAS, it is essential to maintenance of our system of government by representation that the elective process remain as unfettered and simple as possible; and WHEREAS, it is equally essential that the elective process, should encourage rather than inhibit, the nomination to public office of persons of every political persuasion, thay they may advocate their ideas openly before the electorate; and WHEREAS, the legislation proposed by said organization is clearly designed to discourage legitimate candidates espousing unpopular political views and would, in effect, allow the general law city to screen all candidates for public office, permitting only those with financial support and a substantial prior public appeal to ultimately appear on the ballot; and WHEREAS, such legislation would be repugnant to the basic ideals of a democratic system of government, and would permit restraints on the elective process that are totally unwarranted at the municipal level; NOW,-:'THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Rosemead is steadfastly opposed to any legislative alteration of the existing requirements and pro- cedures for nomination to an elective office in a general law city, as said requirements and procedures are presently set forth in the Elections Code of the State of California. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Clerk is directed to send a copy of this resolution to each State Senator and Assemblyman. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 23rd day of February, 1971. MAYOR ATTEST: CITY CLERK -2-