Tonight, Northampton County Council is poised to propose three changes to the Home Rule Charter that will impose term limits on the Executive, County Council members and the Controller. No term limits are being considered for the District Attorney. The changes are as follows:
County Council - "Any member of County Council shall not serve more than three (3) four year terms in succession."
Executive - "No person shall be elected to the office of County Executive more than twice, and no person who has held the office of County Executive, or acted as County Executive for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected County Executive, shall be elected to the office of County Executive more than once."
Controller - "The County Controller shall not serve more than two (2) terms of office in succession."
These proposals would allow County Council members to serve 12 years, take a break, and then serve another 12. They would allow the Controller to serve 8 years, take a break, and then serve 8 more years. If either a Council member or Controller serves as an appointee, that time in office is excluded.
In contrast, the Executive is limited to two terms. Can he take a break and then serve another two terms? No. If he serves as an appointee for more than two years, that's considered a term.
The term limits for Executive are a bit stricter than those of other elected officials.
No NorCo Exec has ever served more than two terms.
Ironically, County Council has left untouched the Office of District Attorney which is subject to Home Rule. John Morganelli served six terms as DA. Don Corriere served three terms.
If these ordinances are adopted, the question will go to the voters. There has only been cursory discussion of these matters in Council's Governance Committee, The ambiguous language concerning term limits for the Executive needs clarification.
Does the imposition of a term limit require a government study commission? Those are necessary if the form of government is changed. It seems at first blush that the imposition of term limits imposes no change in the actual form of government.
10 comments:
Needed at every level of government- it would stop people like Biden, Pelosi, and Schmer and a lot of others.
YES! Too much money for local races. If the people especially the Executive stays in too long they will become too powerful. Not a good thing.
Absolutely! Get rid of McClueless! His time is up but never should have been elected in the first place.
You must be Mcstupid or Mcdumb because the last two republicans didn’t have a chance and lost big time ! Keep drinking the juice
Yes like McConnell, Cruz, Paul and Jordan and other radical Republicans
Term limits for sure! Find better people to run too.
So, what do you think? If the voters are going to weigh in it seems like a fair question. Not sure.
We will never get term limits because the politicians are the ones who have to make the change it will never happen--just like the very unfair school tax based on real-estate the politicians are not there for the people as a result the most unfair stays the same.
annon 3:45, O'Hare won't give you an opinion until McClure tells him what he is allowed to write.
Slow but sure these assholes are changing the Home Rule Charter. Take a look at how many times the charter has been changed. I'm willing to bet at least twenty times. It is time to do a complete evaluation of how our government functions and should our government be changed. Now they see a chance for McClure to be re-elected to a third term and the anti McClures think this is the only way to get rid of him. What a bunch of jerks.
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