One step closer to the ballot.
Most council members are in favor of changing term limits from three two-year terms to two four-year terms.
They will refer their recommendation to the mayor, who will then put it up for a vote during a regular council meeting.
“If in fact the full council supports it, it then will be added to the November 2015 ballot,” Council member Larry Green said.
He is one of the 10 members who voted for the recommendation.
The ad-hoc City Charter Review Committee consists of all 16 council members, but Green said the committee vote doesn’t necessarily mean it will pass.
“There are some council members who wanted to see other changes along with term limits,” he said. “And so they may not be in support if some of the other items don’t get up to vote to be added to the ballot.”
See here for the background. I’ve explained my problems with four year terms before, so I’ll spare you the usual kvetching. Given the abolition of the fundraising blackout period, it’s even harder for me to see the justification for four year terms. Any incumbent that doesn’t go into their re-election year with a six figure-plus campaign treasury will have committed political malpractice. How exactly is this going to make things better? We’ll see how it goes when it comes up for a final vote.
Is it possible that council quietly considered the corrosive aspects of too much money in the system? Or just an a accident?
Malpractice my ass. Somehow they managed to do the right thing.
It really cracks me up. Council will vote for a Charter Amendment that will wipe away the Charter amendment that was a grass roots effort but will not allow us to vote on a Food Charter Amendment.