By Scott Sherman | District 7 Dispatch

As we enter this new year, I am excited to continue working to improve our great city and the communities of District 7.

I intend to hit the ground running to continue the work on housing affordability, the record breaking pace of road repairs, and cutting red tape to help small business.

The first proposal, which I have worked to get approved since early 2015, includes reforming the way the City Council appoints its Council President in an attempt to curb outside influence.

In a much-needed reform to bring non-partisanship to the Council President position, myself and Councilmembers Zapf, Kersey, and Cate have proposed the appointment of future Council Presidents on a rotating order based on seniority.

This measure would be the biggest reform to the Council President position since its inception over a decade ago.

Over the past two years and most especially the past month, the current selection process has resulted in a divided and bitter council.

Other consequences have included allegations of Brown Act violations, horse-trading, and politicization of a largely administrative position.

The proposed rotation-based policy is currently being successfully used in other local regional governments and would help foster increased partnership and cohesion on the City Council. After all, City Council positions are supposed to be non-partisan in the first place.

As can be seen from the last Council President election, the current process is in desperate need of reform. This proposal will help create a process which assures a non-partisan outcome.

— San Diego City Councilmember Scott Sherman represents the District 7 neighborhoods of Mission Valley, Grantville, Allied Gardens, Del Cerro and San Carlos.