Commissioners say they'll hold public meeting on term limits

El Paso County Commissioners agreed Thursday to host a formal public meeting next year on whether additional term limit measures should be placed on a future ballot with wording different from what appeared on the Nov. 2 election ballot.

“Having heard from enough people, I am willing to commit to holding a legally advertised public meeting… where all sides — the for’s, the against’s, the undecided’s — will have their voices heard,” said Commission Chairman Dennis Hisey at Thursday’s board meeting.

Unlike an informal town hall meeting, a public meeting is governed by Colorado open meeting laws and is the only avenue for an elected body, such as the commission, to take official action, said County Attorney Bill Louis.

Since the election, hundreds of people have complained to the elections department, county commissioners, the media and several community activist groups about the language used in three ballot measures to extend term limits from two to three terms for most elected county officials.

All of the measures passed by more than 60 percent of the vote, but some voters now say they didn’t understand the question and voted opposite of what they intended. The measures asked voters whether elected officials should “be limited to serving three consecutive terms.”

“It’s certainly something that’s been a hot topic,” said Commission Vice Chairwoman Amy Lathen. “There’s a majority voice out there going in one direction, but I’ve also heard from folks in the other direction. The ultimate goal is to do the will of the people.”

Commissioner Sallie Clark said she thinks all options need to be considered. Earlier this week, she requested that Louis’ office explore whether the commission, as the body that referred the measures to the ballot, can legislate a term-limit reduction, back to two, via a board resolution. Such action would essentially rescind the Nov. 2 vote.

Louis said it will take several weeks for his office to find out whether that route is a legal option.

Commissioner Wayne Williams also has asked Louis’ office to draft a “rule change” to prevent future confusion about ballot measures.

Currently, measures are referred to the ballot by obtaining a majority vote of the commissioners; state law doesn’t allow citizen initiatives on county ballots.

But El Paso County does not have any procedures regarding the commission’s referral of measures. Williams said he would like to have a public hearing at least one week before commissioners act.  

With the recent term limit measures, there was no public meeting aside from commissioners’ regular meeting, at which they referred them to the ballot.

“The concept is if someone has an objection, that should be voiced before we put it on the ballot,” he said.

Louis said he plans to have a rule change proposal for board consideration by mid-December.