After Interesting Debate Commission Recommends Term Limits for Mayor and City Council

The decision to recommend term limits during Tuesday’s Charter Commission meeting may be less interesting than how the members got there.

After all, the Commission recommended term limits before to the Sandy Springs delegation in the General Assembly and were not taken up on it.

Nevertheless, in a split vote the Commission decided to recommend a maximum of two four-year term limits for the Mayor and City Council, starting in 2017.

There were several motions and votes before the Commission reached its decision. Commission members came close to recommending term limits starting in 2013 but resisted after Chairman Rusty Paul said, “That would directly affect the Mayor, Councilman DeJulio, [Councilwoman] Meinzen-McEnerny and Councilwoman Fries…”

If passed, the four officials would not have been allowed to run for re-election in 2013.

There was also concern that 2017 means they could potentially be in office for 16 years.

“Incumbency is a massively powerful tool,” said Doug MacGinnitie. “People won’t run because it’s hard to take on the incumbent.”

During the discussion, Carolyn Axt was concerned that citizens may feel there is no real opportunity to keep people interested and involved in city government.

“I think 16 years is really defeating the whole spirit of what we are trying to get done,” she said.

Josh Belinfante opposes term limits. It ultimately empowers staff that runs the city more than officials that set policy, he said.

He suggested expanding boards and commissions to attract more citizen involvement. But that would diminish the Mayor’s role, since she appoints board members, said Jim Squire.

Paul reminded members that the Council has already had a lot of turnover.

“The problem hasn’t been people staying too long. We’ve turned this Council,” he said, referring to himself, MacGinnitie, Ashley Jenkins and Dave Greenspan - all former Council members. “Most people burnout and want to leave,” he added.

In the end Paul, Belinfante and Robert Shaw opposed term limits. MacGinnitie, Axt, Squire, Larry Young and Oliver Porter favored them.

Porter believes eight years is a long enough time to serve. “I think we would do well to have a turnover of experience and a new look every few years,” he said.