Term Limits Catch Fire in Southern California Cities

By Douglas V. Gibbs

When I first decided to run for Murrieta City Council, one of the issues I immediately backed was term limits. One of the proposed ordinances that will be on the November ballot tackles term limits. If passed, the initiative would allow members of the city government to serve no more than two consecutive four-year terms. The proposal would not keep the good council members out of office indefinitely, for after a one term break the person would be able to run again, and serve two consecutive terms if elected.

My run for the Murrieta City Council is not the only candidacy calling for term limits. In Escondido, a city in north San Diego County along Interstate 15, Mayoral candidate Tom D'Agosta is also supporting term limits for his city. He says that long-serving politicians (as opposed to statesmen) become stagnant, and too cozy with "special interest." Then, as they use the incumbency to be re-elected, they become difficult to defeat, which keep out of the city government new people with fresh ideas.

Opponents to term limits state that voters are informed enough to remove incumbents when necessary, and that term limits restrict voter choice, and force out of office seasoned and knowledgeable politicians.

Lack of support by the city council for term limits has kept it off the ballot in the San Diego County city. D'Agosta still needs one more vote among the five-member panel to place term limits on a future election ballot.

Without a third vote, D'Agosta and Diaz could throw their weight behind a petition drive that could also put term limits on the ballot. But a term-limits petition drive launched by the city's mobile-home residents in 2008 failed to garner enough signatures.

In California, voters adopted term limits for governor, Senate and Assembly in 1990.

The success of term limits vary from city to city, for each city is an individual entity with unique characteristics and challenges. In Murrieta, in light of a few long-standing council members, the initiative calling for term limits has been largely welcomed by the voters. The status of government official becomes more important to the members than what the people desire, and when the motive for serving becomes something other than serving the people, it is time to break up the club.

A stagnant council often results in a stagnant city, and in this economic environment, that is the last thing we need. Group-think leads to collectivism, and collectivism tends not to lead to new ideas, nor does it support the principles of a limited government that is supposed to serve the people, and partner with the business environment.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

ESCONDIDO: D'Agosta wants City Council term limits - North County Times

Douglas V. Gibbs for Murrieta City Council