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Government Policy Committee

The Government Policy Committee actively tracks policies and practices of local government agencies and evaluates how they are operating with regard to League Government Positions and Program priorities. By employing the efforts of an observer corp, the committee follows the positions and program priorities of County Board of Supervisors, city councils, and community services districts to identify issues that merit closer League attention and potential advocacy.


Chair: Leslie Brown can be reached at govtpolicy@lwvslo.org.


Meetings: 4th Thursday of each month from 10-11. The location may vary.



governance


This committee focused initially on efforts to form an independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC) for SLO County and followed the progress of SB 977, special legislation in the California legislature to establish an independent CRC for our county.   SB 977 was sponsored by Senator John Laird and signed into law by Governor Newsom on September 22, 2024.  It will go into effect in January 2025 and will be in place for the 2030-31 redistricting cycle.


In addition to redistricting, recent League efforts in the area of government policy have focused on campaign finance reform and supporting the work of the County Elections Office. We work to dispel misinformation about the security of elections and the voting process. We track emerging issues related to government transparency and follow county and local government fiscal/budget plans and priorities.

 

We engage in education and advocacy on all these issues.

 

Members of the committee are asked to be part of an observerc corps to monitor public meetings and identify issues the League might focus on for future or additional education and advocacy. Observers may attend meetings in person or via Zoom, review audio and video recordings of meetings, and/or by reading meeting documents.

What Can You Do?

  • Volunteer for our observer corp to help shape League activities and programs by monitoring local agency meetings (particularly city councils and special districts) and identifying areas of concern related to redistricting, government transparency, misinformation, fiscal/budget policies, and other issues that may arise.
  • Track news releases, review meeting agendas and staff reports, and summarize your findings for committee consideration and action.
  • Follow personnel changes in the composition of government agencies as a result of elections, resignations, etc., and maintain the League’s contact information of government officials.

League Resources


Click on highlighted text to see LWV Resources

Other Resources


Click on highlighted text to see additional resources

  • CalMatters is a nonpartisan and nonprofit news organization that reports on California election and political issues.
  • Common Cause is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. 
  • Brennan Center for Justice is an independent, nonpartisan law and policy organization that works to reform, revitalize, and when necessary, defend our country’s systems of democracy and justice. 
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League Action

 


Redistricting and the Independent Redistricting Commission

  • Replay Lunch with the League webinar on "The Future of Redistricting in SLO County" 6/17/24 here
  • LWV California letter supporting SB 977. 5/29/24  here
  • League's comments to the BOS supporting their efforts to create the IRC. 1/16/24  here
  • League's comments to the BOS outlining options for creating an IRC. 9/10/23  here 
  • Redistricting in California here
  • LWV and its People Powered Fair Maps program  here


County Elections

  • Click here to view letter to BOS recommending approval of the Dominion Voting Systems contract 7/9/24
  • Click here to view letter urging BOS to adequately fund County Elections Office 8/20/23


Misinformation

  • Tribune’s article on “Reality Check - How a SLO County meeting descended into misinformation – and why it’s dangerous”, published August 1, 2024
  • League Letter to the Editor regarding "Reality Check" article

 

Email: info@lwvslo.org

Phone 805-242-6990

League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County

P.O. Box 4210

San Luis Obispo, CA 93403