Mr. Diani, a spokesperson for the group promote their plan as a way to have “more effective and efficient local government, keep control over costs and budgeting, protect private property rights and encourage business expansion and development.”

Wednesday’s development marks the first time since 1978 that a county split has moved this far in the process. At that time, the idea of creating Los Padres County with virtually the same boundary as Mission County went to a vote but was soundly defeated.

In order to get a countywide election, there must be 20,779 valid signatures which is probable given the almost 10,000 excess name gathered. Eighty peopled have asked for their names to be removed from the petitions for various reasons, said Joe Holland, county clerk-recorder