1,268 / 51.5% Yes votes ...... 1,193 / 48.5% No votes

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The City Council of the City of Villa Park has adopted a term limit ordinance providing that a person is ineligible to hold office as a member of the City Council if such person has subsequent to January 1,1998 served on the City Council for two (2) full terms. To become operative, this measure must now be approved by a majority of votes cast on the measure at the November 3,1998 general municipal election. If you favor the two-term limit, you should vote "yes". If you oppose it, you should vote "no". If the measure carries by a majority vote, it will be fully enforceable on a prospective basis only.

The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure F. If you desire a copy of the measure, please call the City Clerk's office at (714) 998-1500 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.

We the undersigned strongly support a two term limit (eight years) for the office of city council.

In 1978, voters of Villa Park approved term limits for city council members, however the State subsequently determined such limits were not valid under then state law. The law has since been changed and now permits term limits, subject to voter approval, so you have an opportunity to vote again on this subject.

Term limits avoid the continuity of "old boy networks" which do not properly serve the community over the long term. Eight years (two terms) is more than adequate for any one person to influence his community. Beyond eight years raises the question of motivation and leads to self-serving behavior. New blood brings new ideas and different approach's to city problems.

Long term, entrenched legislators often obtain excessive power, which in turn discourages other qualified candidates from running for office, and may provide the incumbent with an unfair advantage in winning re-election.

On Dec. 11, 1997 the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals voted 9-2 supporting California voters approval of term limits stating "California voters apparently perceived term limits for elected state officials as a means to promote democracy by opening up the political process and restoring competitive elections. This was their choice to make."

Fifteen of thirty one Orange County cities have approved city council term limits and we believe others will follow.

For Villa Park - the choice is yours to make. We encourage you to vote "YES" for city council term limits.

The residents in Villa Park are becoming younger and these young people with families find it difficult to give the many hours required to be an effective councilperson. A councilperson must attend many meetings during the month other than the city council meetings.

If a person has served on the council for four or eight years and a resident feels that this person is no longer effective or has "burnout", let the voter make the choice to not reelect him/her. The City Council is made up of volunteers and we feel that good, honest, hardworking volunteers should be given the choice to run for reelection. Is it not possible for a person to become reenergized after being off Council for one term and then return with their knowledge and expertise? WHY A LIFETIME BAN?

Sixteen out of 31 cities in Orange County have made the decision not to have term limits because they feel that they should not "tie the hands" of their voters but allow the voters to make their own decisions in the privacy of the polling booth on election day.

By voting for this measure, you are taking away your right to make your own decision as to whom you want on YOUR City Council. We urge a NO vote on this measure.