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COH-should we change the term limits?


trymahjong

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Term limits  for City officials is  a big subject

 

http://houston.culturemap.com/news/city_life/01-02-14-mayor-annise-parker-reveals-her-third-term-agenda-and-what-shed-do-with-the-astrodome/

 

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/

 

This mornings front page had headline:  "Term limits on Mayors agenda"

 

It does seem that reelections would loom large on any elected official that had to face a two year term. Fundraising, speeches and all the other stuff that goes along with campaigning would of course be a big part of the time and effort of those seeking reelection. The newspaper article paints that circumstance as a negative.

 

I'm wondering if  a three year term would benefit this situation? So each would serve 3 three year terms?

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I think it's a good idea of changing the city's term limits and they should keep the 3-term rule, but I'd prefer 12 years for three four year terms.

This would allow the Mayor, Controller and City Council to have more time in getting their initiatives done and city projects to be approved

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I guess this subject has been talked about earlier than I thought--

 

http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=56908

from  Nov. 7 -- not the most optimistic view

 

The one cautionary note I would strike is on term limits. You know how I feel about term limits, so I’m not going to go into that. My concern is that this necessarily means a change to the city charter, and that implies the possibility of a larger can of worms being opened. Which, maybe Mayor Parker would welcome, I don’t know. I personally have a hard time shaking the feeling that the goal of this exercise is to curtail the power of the Mayor one way or another – I have a hard time seeing us move to a City Manager form of government, but things like giving Council members the power to propose agenda items are in play. Which, again, may be something the Mayor wants to discuss, and even if it isn’t may be a good thing for the rest of us to talk about. I’ve said I’m open to the conversation, and I am. Doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about the possible ways it could go.

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  • 3 months later...

I also believe those who pushed for Houston city term limits in 1991 did it because they couldn't beat folks like Ben Reyes or Kathy Whitmire from office in the ballot box.

Had Whitmire won reelection in 1991, she would have eligible to run again in 1993 and 1995 I think.

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