California Local Government (Counties and Cities)

Counties in California

• California is divided into $58$ counties.
  • Each county has its own county-level government called a Board of Supervisors (BOS).
  • Example of overlapping names: Los Angeles is both a city and a county, each with separate governing bodies (City Council vs. LA County BOS).
• Territorial variation
  • Huge counties (e.g., San Bernardino) vs. compact counties (e.g., Orange).
• Population variation
  • Densely populated counties (e.g., Los Angeles County: $10{,}000{,}000+$ residents).
  • Sparsely populated rural counties indicated on population-density maps (yellow shading = fewer people per square mile).
• Los Angeles County specifics
  • Encloses ~$90$ incorporated cities + $140$ unincorporated areas.
  • First city incorporated within LA County: $1850$.

County Boards of Supervisors (BOS)

• Membership
  • Standard: $5$ members, each representing a geographic district.
  • Exception: San Francisco (combined city–county) has an $11$-member BOS.
• Elections & terms
  • Supervisors generally serve $4$-year terms.
  • Some counties impose term limits via local ballot measures (e.g., LA County adopted term limits in $2002$).
• Districting
  • Counties are subdivided into BOS districts; residents vote for one supervisor per district.
• Other independently elected county offices commonly found on the ballot
  • Assessor
  • District Attorney (DA)
  • Sheriff
  • Coroner
  • Treasurer/Tax Collector
  • Superintendent of Schools
• Services provided (especially to unincorporated areas)
  • Law enforcement (Sheriff)
  • Fire protection (County Fire Dept. or contract)
  • Public health & utilities
  • Land-use planning & zoning
  • Libraries, parks & recreation

Unincorporated vs. Incorporated Areas

• Unincorporated area = territory that has not formed a city via incorporation.
  • Lowest level of government = County BOS.
  • No city council, no mayor; all services handled by county agencies.
• Incorporated city = residents voted to form a municipal government.
  • Gains authority to provide local services and enact ordinances.
  • Takes on fiscal & administrative responsibilities; hence, new incorporations are rare (only a few in the last $10$ years).

Types of City Government in California

• Council–Manager System (dominant in small & medium-sized cities)
  • Examples: San Jose, Sacramento.
  • Structure
  • City Council: typically $5$ members, each serving $4$-year terms.
  • Elections are at-large (every councilmember represents the entire city).
  • Mayor (if one exists) is not separately elected; the title rotates among councilmembers.
  • Council appoints a professional City Manager who, in turn, hires department heads (Police, Fire, Planning, Libraries, Parks & Rec, Public Works, etc.).
• Mayor–Council System (common in very small or very large cities)
  • Examples: Long Beach, Los Angeles, San Francisco.
  • Structure
  • Separately elected Mayor (citywide constituency).
  • Separately elected City Council members.
  • Larger cities usually adopt district-based council elections rather than at-large.

Election Methods for City Councils

• At-Large Elections
  • All voters citywide elect every council seat.
  • Typical in council–manager cities.
• District (Ward) Elections
  • City is chopped into numbered or named districts.
  • Voters in each district elect one councilmember.
  • Common in large, diverse municipalities (e.g., Long Beach has $9$ council districts).

Long Beach Case Study (Mayor–Council System)

• $9$ district-based City Council seats; each district has its own representative.
• Separately elected Mayor: Robert Garcia (represents entire city).
• Practical example of mayoral influence
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Garcia regularly emailed residents about business closures, healthcare resources, park/beach rules, and public-health guidance – illustrating the day-to-day impact of city leadership.

Practical & Academic Connections

• Understanding county/city structures is crucial for:
  • Public-administration theory (federalism, subsidiarity, local autonomy).
  • Real-world civic engagement (knowing where to request services, whom to lobby).
  • CSULB linking assignment:
  1. Determine your California county (use CSULB’s address if you reside outside CA).
  2. Identify your BOS district and supervisor; research:
     • Name, tenure, education, career history, previous offices.
  3. If you live in an incorporated city:
     • Identify your city government type (council–manager vs. mayor–council).
     • Find your city-council district representative and mayor (if separately elected).
  4. If you live in an unincorporated area:
     • Skip city portion; county officials are your lowest tier of government.
• Ethical & practical implications
  • Local officials (especially during crises) exercise significant power over daily life – public safety orders, zoning decisions, budgeting for essential services.
  • Voter awareness and participation at the local level directly influence service quality and community well-being.