Ok, vacation is good and all, but it's time to get back to work.
One of the things I've spoken about in the past, an in order NOT to cost the city additional money was withdrawn, was the need for Term Limits in Gonzales. So in a couple of weeks we will be releasing the petitions for this endeavor. We will need just over 400 registered voters in Gonzales to make this happen. The petition will read:
No person shall be eligible to hold the office of mayor or city council for more than four full terms, nor hold a total of more than of six terms in combined elected office, and shall not be placed on the ballot for election to any term if service for the full term would constitute a violation hereof.
Why do we believe term limits are needed?
1) Fresh Ideas - Anytime anyone has been in office to long their vision gets narrowed to what they've seen. Imagination goes out the window, and we get a bad case of 'that's how it's always been'.
2) 8 Years Is Enough - Ok, it takes a good year to get a good understanding of what you're doing on the council and how to make things happen, but if you can't get what you set out to achieve in 8 years do you really think you'll ever get it done? Let's be honest, you are more productive for the first couple of years than you'll be the rest of your career.
3) We've seen 2 corruptions cases prosecuted in our town, not to mention the probability of additional cases not prosecuted. Additionally corruption in our county government, and if you just look around in our neighbors you'll see dozens of cases of government corruption. That doesn't even cover things like the FBI sting in San Antonio or Austins council over the last decade. What do everyone of these have in common? Everyone of them have been in office for significant periods of time.
Currently the City of Gonzales has no term limits what so ever. The proposed limits are not very restrictive to be honest. 12 years total in office is a long time.
We know that there are those that are worried about who will run the city after term limits kick in. Honestly, it will be another group of men and women who care about the city. We've never had a vacancy because no one would run, and I promise it won't happen. There will always be someone to step up.
Last we want to point out that these limits do not apply retroactively to the current council. They will have the opportunity for an additional 6 years. Again, this is NOT retroactive. The timer would start May 2012. So this is NOT to kick anyone who is on the council off, this is to keep Gonzales growing and progressing in a positive manner.
God Bless,
Dennis
I would worry more about having quality citizens serving for however long they want, as long as they are doing their job.
ReplyDeleteI rely on you and Mr. Shepherd to keep us alert to when they are not.
I have served on boards with and without term limits. And I was glad to get off of those boards with term limits when my time ended, just as I was glad to get off of boards that didn't and I voluntarily stepped down because I got tired!
The problem lies in when we think we only have 5 quality individuals in Gonzales who can do the job. We have plenty more. And they might need to be motivated to take on the position, but that's the citizens of this towns job.
ReplyDeleteIt's human nature though for our field of vision to narrow the longer we stay in a position. This is not advantageous for the city.
And the term limits we are proposing are honestly not very restrictive. How many of our current council would be effected by this if this were already in place? Only 2. And remember, even they would get up to 12 more years in term if this was passed.
God Bless,
Dennis Nesser
Have you started the petition drive yet? If so where can a person sign one?
ReplyDelete