City ponders term limits

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press February 23, 2001

By BOB WILSON
Valley Press Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Is eight years too long or not long enough for an elected City Council member?

Palmdale council members want their constituents to tell them if they like or dislike the idea of term limits for city elected officials.

To get that answer, the city's elected leaders Wednesday voted 3-2 to gauge residents' interest in establishing term limits for the City Council.

A proposal for setting a limit of eight years of council service was brought forward by freshman member Rick Norris. Setting such a limit would require voter approval.

While the majority did not vote to place the question on the ballot, Norris - joined by councilmen Mike Dispenza and Rod Penner - opted to find out what the public wants.

The move was opposed by Councilman Jim Root and Mayor Jim Ledford, the latter calling the issue "a solution looking for a problem."

Norris said he broached the subject in order to fulfill a promise made during his fall election campaign.

"Term limits are in place for the state; there's been movement at the feds," he said. "Eight years is long enough to get in and do the job."

Besides, "You can't beat an incumbent" until he or she opts to step out of contention, Norris said, noting defeats by a number of first-time contenders in recent years, including himself.

Ledford disagreed, saying an incumbent with a poor record with voters is an easy mark.

Putting a limit on council service would make lame ducks of everyone serving his or her final term, Ledford said.

"I kind of like people staying motivated" by the prospect of winning re-election by pleasing constituents, he said.

Also, setting such a maximum would eliminate the most experienced people from city leadership, the mayor said, noting that it often takes years for politicians to develop influence and gain access to committee membership.

If the term-limits proposal were to be brought forward and approved by voters in November, it would not affect those already seated, Norris said.

The clock would not start ticking until an incumbent was up for re-election or when a newcomer is elected to the council.

Resident Marta Williamson said she and other members of her neighborhood organization, the Oldtown Homeowners Group, supported the proposal.

"We are tired of seeing the same faces claiming to represent us year after year after year," Williamson said. "I personally think eight years is too long."

"I propose two two-year terms, and I think that's more than enough for the council members and mayor of Palmdale," she said. "That way they cannot have time to become disconnected from their constituents."

Gary Cope, another member of the Oldtown Homeowners, also voiced support for limits, calling them "part of the political expediency now."

Resident Emily Dotter disagreed.

"I believe if the people didn't want to have you there, they wouldn't vote you in," she told the council.

Resident Raul Figueroa echoed Dotter, saying, "I believe we have term limits: If you don't do your job, you're not going to get re-elected. That's the bottom line."

Councilman Rod Penner expressed interest in finding out where the rest of the city's residents stood on the matter.

"This goes to the heart of how the people choose to choose their representatives," Penner said. "I'd really like to know more about what the voting public as a whole thinks of this."

The cost of placing the question on a ballot by itself is estimated at $20,000 to $30,000, while placing it on a ballot during a regularly scheduled election could cost $2,000 to $4,000, according to City Clerk Victoria Hancock.

"Before we spend the money to hold a referendum, let's make sure we have the opinion of the people as to which way the majority would want to go," Penner said.

For all the publicity given the issue already, it drew responses from only four people, Root noted. "If it was something big, a lot of people would have been here."

"There's a total lack of public outcry" behind Norris' proposal, Ledford said.

"Two candidates raised the issue as part of their election platforms," he said, referring to Norris and Sandy Corrales, who lost her third bid for a council seat in November.

"That does not, in my opinion, constitute momentum, urgency or priority," Ledford said.

If no one is concerned, that will be reflected in the results of the survey, Norris said.