Political Gumbo: Voters Are The Best Term Limits

Term limits are one of several items up for Charter reform.

It makes for an interesting conversation.

Here are the arguments, term limits eliminate corruption and allow for fresh blood.

On the other side, the argument is you lose experience and proven leadership just for the sake of inexperienced new blood.

I get why people would consider it.

But here’s another side. We already have term limits.

The voters can always decide to get rid of an elected official.

Forcing time limits on elected officials takes power away from voters.

The voters deserve the power.

The call for voter power is the reason some residents want the Charter mandated appointment process removed from the City charter.

Under that provision, the City Council is required to appoint a replacement when a council member cannot complete a term.

Local residents want special elections so the voters, and not the City Council, can choose replacements.

Sounds like a sound way to go, but why take that power away with term limits.

Of course there are claims that longtime council members are beholden to the police union.

If that aggravates you, vote that incumbent out of office.

Issues of corruption always circulate, and people attach it to campaign financing limits and unlimited terms.

According to a consultant at the Charter Study Group meeting, having term limits would create more opportunities for non-incumbents to be elected. However, it can also shorten the tenure of the community’s most experienced legislators.

And term limits would also make public office less appealing.

No guarantee term limits would make things better.

Yes, you can expand the argument out to corrupt politicians like Trump and Santos.

Those boys were corrupt long before they held office.

Yes incumbents have an advantage, but it’s not an unfair advantage.

They’ve attended the meetings, spoken to constituents and learned the issues.

That’s experience and any candidate would be a half wit not to use it to their advantage.

I’m all for the discussion on term limits. Talk about it, and if it makes it to the charter, then so be it.

At the same time, although it is not an issue for charter reform, maybe we should also be talking about voter turnout.

Yes we do need fresh voices and perspectives.

And the best places those fresh voices and younger people can express themselves is by voting.

Absent that, we do have fresh voices and perspectives around the dias, Jess Rivas, Justin Jones and Jason Lyon all provide fresh voices and perspectives.

But there is a learning curve for council members, and that’s where Tyron Hampton, Mayor Victor Gordo, Gene Masuda and Stave Madison come in.

And the fresh councilmembers will someday hopefully provide input to the next generation, if and this is key, if the voters give them that chance.

Charter reform is a great tool, but it should not take the power away from the voters.