HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.—A Huntington Beach committee that was formed to review the city’s charter, or constitution, recommend that the city council change multiple elected positions in city government to appointed.
In its April 26 meeting, the city’s Charter Revision Committee voted 5–2 in separate votes to recommend Huntington Beach’s city attorney, city clerk, and city treasurer be appointed by a councilor, instead of elected by residents.
The recommendation to turn the city attorney from an elected position to one appointed by the city council is quite controversial, as some say it is an endeavor to remove the elected city attorney Michael Gates, who is often publicly at odds with the city council on a variety of legal issues, including fighting the state on high-density housing mandates.
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