Back at it - Term Limits

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One of the things I've spoken about in the past, an in order NOT to cost the city additional money was withdrawn, was the need for Term Limits in Gonzales.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

Term Limits

Gonzales Citizens,

I’ve been a citizen of this town for 15 years now, and have watched as our politics in this town has gotten stale and corrupt.  I’ve seen 2 long term politicians be removed from office because of corruption of one sort of another, and with the DA’s mandating that ballots be retained as evidence in an on going investigation, I’m lead to believe there is more to come. I’ve seen senior officials believe they are above the law as they ignore our city charter, and run our budget like your and my money grows on trees.

It seems to me that they get complacent as they sit on their thrones.

I for one am tired of it, and am no longer going to hold my tongue to what I see.  I’ve put up my bulletin board on the back of my fence that has lead to many water cooler conversations over the last couple of weeks. On this weeks sign I call for term limits for our mayor and city council.

I'm not exactly sure what it will take to get those limits placed, but I know between now and the next election I plan on making that happen.  

I want to see new ideas in this town to make it grow respectfully.  I want people from the outside to see us as a gem, not a crooked place.  I want some vision, and our city management has to take the blinders off. 

Let's take a stand together.  If you know how to get something on the ballot here in Gonzales, PLEASE let me know. I don't mind being the point guard here, but I need a starting place. You know that mile starts with a first step type thing.

God Bless
Dennis