The Corona City Council rejected a proposal Wednesday that would have allowed voters to change the city's rotating mayorship and allow for a separately-elected mayor. The vote to maintain the current system was 3-2 with Council Members Eugene Montanez and Randy Fox dissenting.
Supporters of the switch likened the prospect of an elected mayor to an "umpire" who could more easily resolve internal disputes among officials. Opponents such as Mayor Jason Scott countered that a separately-elected mayor could possess too much influence, resulting in a power imbalance on the city council.
While the city's mayoral system will remain unchanged, voters will have a chance to switch to district-based council elections in November. The move to districts has been billed as a means of increasing minority representation and avoiding potential legal challenges that have plagued so many other cities.
Read more about Wednesday's vote here.