Term limits issue is on ice until November 2012

As promised, El Paso County Commissioner Darryl Glenn re-opened the can of worms known as term limits at Thursday’s board meeting, but three fellow commissioners put the lid on it, for what they said they hope is the last time until the General Election next November.

“We have spent hours and hours on this issue because it matters and because that’s what people asked us to do. We’ve done exactly what we’ve been asked to do; it’s time to move on,” said commission board Chairwoman Amy Lathen.

On July 7, commissioners approved, on a 4-1 vote, a reworded question for the November 2012 ballot. It will ask voters whether terms-in-office should be kept at the current limit of three consecutive four-year terms or reduced to two four-year terms.

Voters extended the terms to three for most elected county officials last November, but some complained that the ballot wording was confusing and deceptive, and called for a revote.

After the election, then-commission Chairman Dennis Hisey committed to holding hearings this summer, so the board could gauge public sentiment and decide what to do.
Commissioners held four public hearings before adopting the recommended 2012 ballot question earlier this month.

However, the question will allow two commissioners, Hisey and Sallie Clark, to run for a third term in November 2012, even if voters overturn last year’s decision.

Glenn wants Hisey and Clark exempted, so that if voters return term limits to two, Hisey and Clark would not be able to take office, even if they ran next year and won in their districts.  

Lathen said that would be unethical because voters from throughout the county would be deciding the fate of officials that represent specific districts.

“We have conceded that some people were confused. I do not concede that voters were categorically misled,” Lathen said, in response to Glenn saying that there was “a good faith belief that some people were misled.”

“The law, as it stands now, allows them to run for another term, and that’s what they should be allowed to do,” Lathen said.

Glenn had won the support of Commissioner Peggy Littleton to place the item back on the agenda with their suggested wording for the ballot measure. Littleton was absent Thursday.

Hisey made a motion to not refer Glenn’s version to the ballot and not hold another public meeting on the topic next Thursday, which had been scheduled according to board rules. It passed, 3-1, with Glenn in opposition.

“The stated goal was to clarify the issue, not further confuse it, which is what this would do, as well as allow voters outside a district to override the will of the voters within a district,” Hisey said.