Measure G, an initiative on the 2024 ballot, proposes expanding the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from five to nine, creating an elected CEO and an independent ethics committee.

Currently, the Board members are elected by the public and are in charge of the County’s social, mental health and justice services departments. Supervisors also pass budgets and can pass county laws. There are about 10 million residents in L.A. County, and each board member oversees roughly two million people. 

Lindsey Horvath, the third district supervisor and a supporter of Measure G, said she likes to be hands-on in the communities she represents, but the size of her district can make that difficult.

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“Often what happens is supervisors have to choose where they spend their time and how much time they actually get to spend with their constituents who are counting on them for critical services,” Horvath said.

Frank Zerunyan, a professor of public policy, believes the expansion of the Board of Supervisors can provide more access to communities that are not represented.

 “The Asian community comes to mind, that is really not represented on the Board of Supervisors… even though there are big pockets of Asian Americans that live in the county of Los Angeles,” Zerunyan said. 

However, not all current supervisors approve of the proposed changes. Holly Mitchell, the second district supervisor, said expanding the Board to nine seats is arbitrary.

“Measure G didn’t do any data analysis to come up with the nine they included,” Mitchell said. “I don’t know that nine is the best number to expand the board. It might be 11. It might be 15. There are all kinds of models all over the country. And I think since we are the largest county, it would make sense for the board to be informed by data and research and for us to really give some real thought about what the numbers should be, as opposed to picking a number and running with it.”

The County’s Auditor-Controller, Oscar Valdez, performed an analysis on Measure G and estimated the changes would cost $8 million to implement.

“I don’t believe it’s fiscally possible, ” Mitchell said. “If Measure G does not pass, it  gives us an opportunity to be thoughtful about how we expand and how we talk about and budget for those real costs.” 

Measure G also proposes the creation of an elected countywide executive official position. Currently, there is an executive official who helps manage the day-to-day operations, the $46 billion budget and the implementation of laws with the Board of Supervisors, but this individual is appointed by the Board of Supervisors. 

Horvath said the current CEO is not empowered by the people because they are selected by the board. Making the CEO an elected position would make that person accountable, which is a better way to decide who should draft the $46 billion budget.

The newly elected official would be in charge of implementing policies and drafting a budget. Mitchell said she worries that the elected CEO would take power away from the board.

“It creates this brand new county-wide elected chief executive officer who would not be subject to term limits, so they could stay in that position forever,” Mitchell said. “It really disempowers the board, who represents districts…So while they say our districts have too many people, the county executive would represent 10 million people and would have more power than the Board of Supervisors, which would politicize the position.”

Zerunyan said he has worries that the CEO being elected will affect the power structure of the city’s governance.

“ It’s gonna muddy the waters a little because when that person is elected and accountable to the electors, does he have accountability to the Board of Supervisors?” Zerunyan said. “They could say, ‘Hey, I’ve been elected by the people and you’re telling me otherwise. I’m going to do what people tell me to do.’” 

Measure G would also implement an independent ethics committee, charter reform committee and governance task force to keep public officials accountable. Additionally, it would prevent politicians from lobbying in the county the first two years after leaving office and would allow the suspension of county politicians who are criminally charged with a felony. However, an ethics committee will be implemented regardless of whether Measure G passes. 

Mitchell said the measure does not address the major issues L.A. County faces, including homelessness and the functionality of different social departments. Over 80,000 residents sleep on the streets, and she believes the priority of the Board must be affordable housing.