Our View: Measure A: Time for supervisors to make good on their self-governance promise

Seldom must politicians back up their campaign promises so soon with actions. But that is the case with Kern County supervisors as the measure they placed on the June 2 ballot appears to be passing.

Although vote counting continues, there is little doubt voters passed Measure A. Since the polls closed last week, the measure establishing a narrow charter for Kern County that transfers authority for filling board vacancies from the governor to board members has been overwhelmingly passing.

So, now what? How supervisors use that power to appoint replacements or call special elections to allow citizens to elect their supervisors will be tested in just a few months.

Supervisors pitched Measure A to voters as a way to provide self-governance and home rule for the people of Kern County, according to the wording in a proposed ordinance to enact their newfound power.

But just how supervisors will appoint, or decide to call a special election to give the people - and not just board members - self-governance and home rule is unclear.

The campaign promise will be tested when 4th District Supervisor David Couch resigns at the end of this year and is sworn in as the assemblyman representing the 32nd District. Couch was unopposed in the June 2 primary. His election to the state post is assured.

That means supervisors will somehow replace Couch as 4th District supervisor. There are two years left to be served on the four-year county board term he was elected to in 2024.

By now, supervisors should have an idea how they want to proceed. They have known since March, when candidate filing to run for Assembly closed and Couch had no opponent, that if Measure A passed, they would get to replace Couch.

It's time they share their ideas with constituents and open the process to the voters they promised self-governance.

According to the proposed ordinance, Measure A will be "in full force and effect" after certification of the vote. Elections officials have 30 days from the close of polls on June 2 to certify the vote.

After submitting the certified vote to the Secretary of State, the "ordinance shall then be operative on November 1, 2026." The clerk of the board will publish a legal notice informing the public.

Meanwhile, supervisors should take steps to make good on their self-governance promise.

- Using public hearings, develop an ordinance that will spell out the criteria and process for calling a special election, or appointing a board replacement.

With voters in 2022 limiting supervisors to serving only two terms, filling board mid-term vacancies could become a common occurrence. Termed-out supervisors will be tempted to run for other offices and abandon their unfinished board terms if elected to another office.

- Appointing a board replacement must be a transparent process - done in public, with people interested in serving applying in public, and the board considering and appointing replacements in public.

Supervisors promised voters on June 2 self-governance. Now they should begin the process of delivering on that promise.

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This story was originally published June 13, 2026 at 5:07 AM.