The Golden State electorate was tasked with voting on Measure G to restructure the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors – which was previously made up of just five people who represent around two million constituents each. That’s a significant amount of political sway and domination. Factor in that these five people also manage America’s largest county government, with a nearly $50 billion budget, which is more than that of all but 12 US states.
California Choices.org explains why the residents of LA County approved the drastic changes in the Board of Supervisors that will: “Create an elected County Executive.” That County Executive position could well be the most powerful political position in the state.
Bestowing Power
Of course, it’s the government, so there is a task force made up of 13 people who can turn the tides in whatever direction desired. It is composed of board-appointed members from the five districts, three individuals representing labor interests, and five at-large members to provide diversity. The team has met once and hashed out the big picture, which participants claim is related to the ethics commission.
There doesn’t appear to be a regular schedule for any future task force meetings. And that raises the question of the back-burner conversations — they point to a different agenda: getting the county executive in before November 2028.
The office, once filled, will be an unstoppable launch pad to the governor’s mansion, and that is a lot of power to hand over to one person.
How It Gets Done
There are a few names on the lips for potential coronation: Real estate developer Rick Caruso has great name recognition and a whole lot of cash. Caruso, however, doesn’t seem to have the patience of a 2028 appointment. Rumor has it the land guy is gearing up for a 2026 run for mayor of LA or maybe even the governorship. More on the progressive side, Miguel Santana, president of the California Community Foundation, is a popular alternative. As murky and uncoordinated as the process seems to date, stranger rises to power have been made in a less than transparent way.
It may be a tightrope walk worthy of Nik Wallenda crossing a gorge near the Grand Canyon, specifically Hellhole Bend, in Arizona, without a safety harness. The descriptor could fit if the plans go awry and a dictatorship is born and protected. Some might say there could be problems down the line. Some members are seeking a Founding Father vibe, at least in Mike Bonin’s eyes—namely, a lack of “your eminency” and unlimited terms in office. Bonin, director of the Pat Brown Institute and former member of the LA City Council, proffered on his podcast What’s Next Los Angeles: “I have a hard time imagining that anybody who is going to go through the time, the effort and the indignity of running for office — for an office that represents more people than most governors — is not going to want to assume as much power as possible and make the role as big as possible,” said Bonin. That’s hardly a George Washington kind of leader.
