Municipal Advisory Councils (MACs) in Alameda County provide an important voice to the Board of Supervisors for residents in Unincorporated Communities.  Currently the county has two MACs in Castro Valley and Sunol.  They are created by the Board under California Government Code §31010 and can be created as either appointed or elected bodies.  Five counties in California already have elected MACs.  San Mateo, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Ventura and Kern.

Elected MACs are still only advisory bodies, but they enjoy a greater freedom to speak as and advocate for their communites since they were elected by them.  Alameda County residents deserve those same freedoms for their advisory representatives.

The Board of Supervisors can change existing MACs into elected bodies by resolution.  They should either do that, or place a referendum on the ballot so county voters can decide if all MACs in Alameda County are elected by their constituents, now and in the future.