Where Are Term Limits???

Commentary by Dave Freneaux

    Until Wednesday afternoon the silence was DEAFENING.  There was no lack of passion in favor of term limits when Council Members Messina, Washington and LoBue were asking for our votes in 2010.  Mr. Messina said “If 8 years is good enough for the President of the United States, 8 years ought to be good enough for the Central City Council.”  Mr. Washington said that Term Limits are “something that the people want…I will work to see this accomplished.”  Mr. LoBue campaigned, “Yes, 8 years… I feel that one of the governmental problems right now with the nation is that we don’t have the right term limits in place.”  So…where are the term limits?

    In an informal internet survey last week 88% of the respondents favored Term Limits for Central’s City Council.  The issue has been presented in this editorial column for several weeks.  Term limits have been discussed on the radio in Central each of the last three weeks.  The question was asked at City Council during public comment.  I sent an email to every Council Member asking whether they intend to bring Term Limits to a vote.  Council Member Moak is not in favor of term limits, and responded as such.  Council Member DeJohn responded that he could favor Term Limits under the right circumstances, but did not campaign on a promise of Term Limits and feels that those who did should make it their business to raise the issue.  The three who campaigned FOR term limits, Council Members Messina, Washington and LoBue, had yet to even respond to the emails…until Wednesday, when one of these three Council Members said, for the record, that he will “considering” introducing Term Limits for a vote.

    The process, should the Council actually vote on the matter, would likely be put to a vote of the citizens of Central.  Central’s legal counsel would have to recommend the correct process.  The issue to be debated at Council would include WHAT Term Limits to impose on which offices, City Council, Mayor & Chief of Police.  There is much to consider and less than a year to accomplish this, so I am hopeful that the aforementioned Council Member indeed does formally begin the discussion.