The proponents behind an initiative to raise the minimum wage to $25 an hour for hotel and event center workers in Anaheim have sued the city for moving the special election on Measure A to Oct. 3.
Anaheim originally targeted Sept. 12 for the public vote, but officially called for the election on Oct. 3 after the Orange County Registrar of Voters communicated challenges with preparing materials in time.
The initiative proponents are asking the court to not allow the special election to happen on Oct. 3 since it would be past the deadline mandated by state election law, according to the lawsuit.
They argue the city was required to order the election at its June 13 meeting, which would have started the clock on the 88 to 103 day time frame that state law mandates. The City Council ended up ordering the election at its June 27 meeting, setting the Oct. 3 date.
Unite Here Local 11, a labor union representing service workers, developed the initiative. It previously asked for the initiative to go before voters in the November 2024 general election since it would likely have higher turnout.
“They either need to schedule an election within the proper time frame or they need to send it to the general election in November of next year,” said Unite Here Local 11 lead organizer Christine Miller.
“We stand by our action and see this lawsuit as unnecessary,” Anaheim city spokesperson Mike Lyster said in a statement. “Measure A holds significant impacts for our city and our larger visitor economy. An Oct. 3 special election allows voters to weigh in as soon as possible with plenty of time to learn more about the measure and where and how they can vote.”
City Attorney Robert Fabela reassured councilmembers at their June 27 meeting that the new date would fall within the required time frame for holding a special election.
The special election will decide if the city should have the higher minimum wage for hotel and event centers workers, as well as…
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