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Proposition C Maximum Terms of Office City of Long Beach Charter Amendment 7,007 / 31.4% Yes votes ...... 15,278 / 68.6% No votes
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Information shown below: Summary | Impartial Analysis | Arguments | | |||||
Shall Proposition C, which amends the Long Beach City Charter by: modifying the term limits for the Mayor and City Council offices from two terms to three terms; and modifying the term limits for members of the Harbor and Water Commissions to three four-year terms be adopted?
The Way It Is Now: Currently, the City Charter limits Council members to two full four year terms in office. The same is true for the office of the Mayor. The Harbor and Water Commissioners are limited to two full terms of six years for Harbor Commissioners and five years for Water Commissioners. What Proposition C Would Do: This proposition changes the term limits so that the Council and Mayor would be allowed to serve for twelve years (three terms). The Harbor and Water Commissioners would be limited to four year terms but could be appointed to a total of three terms. Supporters Say:
Presently, the Long Beach City Charter provides that the Mayor and members of the City Council may serve no more than two full four-year terms unless the candidate chooses to run for office as a write-in. The proposed amendment would increase those term limits, and permit the Mayor and the City Council to serve a maximum of three full four-year terms. Presently, the Long Beach Charter provides that members of Charter-mandated commissions may serve no more than two full four-year terms, except that members of the Harbor Commission may serve a maximum of two full six-year terms and members of the Water Commission may serve a maximum of two full five-year terms. The proposed amendment would modify the term limits of the Harbor Commission and the Water Commission to permit members serve a maximum of three full four-year terms.
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Official Information Local Facts LWV Long Beach Presents Live 'Pros & Cons' on the Ballot Measures
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Arguments For Proposition C | Arguments Against Proposition C | |
Our City government needs reform.
Two term limits on elected officials have done a disservice to our City. It encourages elected officials to pursue short-term policy successes that will allow them to run for higher office in order to avoid being termed-out, rather than look for long-term solutions to challenges facing our city. When experienced representatives are termed-out, replacements must rely heavily on bureaucrats and lobbyists for expertise. These new elected officials can avoid accountability for the long-term effects of policies enacted by the previous officeholder. We need to hold our elected officials accountable for the long-term impacts of their decisions. Harbor Commissioners and Water Commissioners currently have longer terms of office than the Mayor and City Council who appoint them. These non-elected commissioners need to have their terms of office brought in line with elected officials in order to make them responsive to the public.
Please vote YES on Proposition C. Senator Alan Lowenthal Former Mayor Beverly O'Neill
Two terms allows for consistent change and new ideas -- and change is good! Vote NO on Prop C Robert Fronke, Former City Auditor John Gooding, Citizens for a Better Long Beach George Economides, Publisher, Long Beach Business Journal | Fellow Citizens:
Limiting councilmembers to two four-year terms, which voters passed overwhelmingly in 1992, has ensured that new members have joined our city council every election since. These new members invariably added fresh ideas, new approaches to old problems, diverse viewpoints, and renewed energy to achieve significant progress. Council positions should not be considered career opportunities or a stepping stone to higher office. Ideally they should be filled by citizens volunteering for a limited period to give their time and experience to represent neighbors in solving common problems. Achieving this ideal will be less likely if term limits are extended. In a separate proposition (Proposition D) on this ballot, the council is proposing to liberalize incumbent's ability to run as a write-in candidate. This makes it much easier for someone to continue in office without extending terms. Some argue that replacing long-time incumbents can be left to the voters at election time; however, experience has shown that unseating an incumbent is quite difficult, more so the longer he or she holds office. Running for council is a costly and time consuming effort. Faced with a well-financed incumbent, many well qualified candidates are unwilling to make the effort, while a wide-open race for a vacant seat often attracts a number of qualified candidates who bring positions on issues of vital interest to voters. Are such vacant-seat races invigorating and good for our city as a whole, and for the district involved? We're convinced they are. If you agree, you should oppose this proposition. Let's assure that there is a reasonable opportunity for all to participate in our city government. Let's continue to limit the council to two terms. Vote NO on Proposition C. Robert Fronke, Former City Auditor John Gooding, Citizens for a Better Long Beach George Economides, Publisher, Long Beach Business Journal
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