State DAs Org Opposes County Charter Reform

Today county Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer will ask her colleagues to place a raft of proposed county governance reforms on the November ballot. The California District Attorneys Association isn’t cheering her on.

An attorney representing the organization sent a letter to Lawson-Remer arguing the measure’s proposal to apply three four-year term limits to sheriffs and district attorneys along with supervisors could legally sink the measure.

Attorney letter sent to Supervisor Board Chair Lawson-Remer | Click on images to enlarge

“Unfortunately, the voters of San Diego County have no legal power to adopt such a conditional provision and thus, a court would be authorized to remove the whole proposed charter amendment from the ballot.”—Attorney Thomas W. Hiltachk

Lawson-Remer’s office has added a severability clause to the proposal, meaning if any provision of the measure is ruled invalid, other parts can take effect.

The Morning Report is written by Lisa Halverstadt, Tigist Layne, Jakob McWhinney, Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña and edited by Will Huntsberry. | April 21, 2026 | Voice of San Diego

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