Thread: Battle for term limits has twist

Primary Election

Battle for term limits has twist

Republicans, Democrats reverse typical stances

By John Marelius, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Sunday, May 9, 2010 at 12:04 a.m.

The public employees union that has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars during the past two decades seeking to undermine California’s term-limits law is leading the charge to limit the terms of San Diego County supervisors, turning the traditional partisan dynamic of the issue on its head.

The Service Employees International Union Local 221 is the principal sponsor and financier of Proposition B on the June 8 ballot. Proposition B would limit the five supervisors — all Republicans — to two four-year terms and bar them from ever serving again.

Polls in California and across the country show Republicans are much more favorably disposed toward term limits than Democrats. But the county Democratic Party supports Proposition B and the county Republican Party opposes it.

“In related news, birds swim and fish fly,â€

Proposition B

Limits members of San Diego County Board of Supervisors to two four-year terms.

Pro: The five Republican supervisors have served together since 1995 and have grown unresponsive to the needs of their constituents. Incumbent supervisors are virtually unbeatable when they run for re-election partly because of county money they spread around.

Con: Public employees unions behind the measure are trying to exert more control over county government. Term limits are a major contributor to dysfunction in the Legislature. Proposition B’s term limits are not retroactive, allowing the incumbents potentially many more years in office.


OTHER COUNTIES IN STATE

Six counties in California limit the terms of county supervisors:

• Los Angeles, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties limit them to three four-year terms.

• Orange, San Francisco and San Joaquin counties limit them to two four-year terms.