San Francisco's Proposition A on the Nov. 3 ballot was written to clean up city government by cutting redundant commissions and reporting rules. But a passage on its first page has set off an argument over whether it would also undo the lifetime term limits voters approved in June. If it does, former Board President Aaron Peskin could run again.

What the text says

In June, 53% of voters approved Proposition B, which limited mayors and supervisors to two terms in their lifetimes, Mission Local reported. Prop. B replaced the 1990 rule, which allowed two consecutive terms and then let a former supervisor run again after sitting out at least four years. Peskin is the only supervisor who ever made that comeback.

Section 2.101 of Prop. A's legal text repeats the 1990 language almost word for word: "No person having served two successive four-year terms may serve as a supervisor, either by election or appointment, until at least four years after the expiration of the second successive term in office."

Board President Rafael Mandelman, Prop. A's author, told Mission Local that "this was absolutely not my intention." He said the old language was in the draft before Prop. B passed. Prop. A was introduced May 19 and amended at a June 22 Rules Committee hearing, three weeks after the June election.

The city says nothing changes

The City Attorney's Office told Mission Local that "Proposition A does not impact or make any changes to term limits." Mandelman said he expects the two measures to be "harmonized." 48 Hills reported that Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, who wrote Prop. B, has also said Prop. A makes no change to term limits.

Election attorney Jim Sutton told Mission Local there are "valid arguments" on the city's side, but the outcome is "not automatic." He said the city would have to go to court, and that "the presumption, the starting point, is that Prop. A of November trumps Prop. B of June," because later laws generally prevail and voters are presumed to have read what they approve.

Would Peskin run?

Asked whether he would run again, Peskin told Mission Local, "It's not on my list of things to do. But it wasn't on my list of things to do last time." He added: "Never say never." 48 Hills sketched out a scenario in which he files for the 2028 District 3 race once Prop. A is certified.

Some donors backed both measures. Mission Local reported that Chris Larsen gave $200,000 to Prop. B and $100,000 to Prop. A, and Michael Moritz gave $80,000 to Prop. B and $150,000 to Prop. A.

For a full rundown of what else the measure does, see our Prop. A explainer.

How to vote

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.