June 17, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Third Term’s the Charm?

City Warily Approves Term Limit Ballot Initiative. Councilmembers voice opposition but will let voters decide.

By Sam Catanzaro

Santa Monica City Councilmembers debated the merits of term limits Tuesday night, July 24, before approving a measure that will put the matter before voters in the November election.

“I feel that the power of incumbency is so great and the fact that this is a volunteer position makes it something that other members of our citizen body should be able to serve in,” said Councilmember Sue Himmelrich. “I know so many young people in the City who would be responsible and responsive members of the City Council.”

Photos: Morgan Genser.
World War II pilot and veteran Jule Lamm speaks during a Term Limits rally as Mary Marlow holds the microphone for him. Next to them are five boxes that hold the 19,715 petitions for term limits presented Monday May 21, 2018. Standing next to Mary is Elizabeth Van Denburgh. Lamm, Marlow, and Van Denburgh are all members of the “Santa Monicans for Council Term Limits.”

Over the past 24 years, Santa Monica City Council has seen only two incumbents defeated in elections. The Santa Monica Transparency Project in response circulated a petition that calls for a three-term limit for Councilmembers. The petition received 19,166 signatures, 18,943 of which were verified by the City Clerk.

“Term limits give voters a real chance for change and bring in fresh perspectives and ideas. Term limits encourage potential candidates to run and foster healthy competition,” wrote Mary Marlow, Chair of the Santa Monica Transparency Project in the petition. “Incumbents are elected over and over again because of name recognition and the power of the incumbency.”

Despite unanimously approving the petition that will put the question of term limits on the ballot, Himmelrich, who cosigned the petition with Marlow and has vowed to step down after three terms, was the only Councilmember who expressed support for term limits. Councilmember Kevin McKeown, who has served 20 years on the Council, believes voters should have the final say in the matter because of due process, but argued that term limits infringe on voters’ rights.

Elizabeth Van Denburgh from Santa Monicans for council term limits in front of the Santa Monica City Hall on Monday May 21, 2018.

“This is described on the staff report as limiting the time a person can serve on the City Council, but it can just as easily be described as a ballot measure that will limit the voters’ options,” McKeown said. “I have been elected to the City Council five times now, the last three times I was the top vote-getter, which indicates to me, that at least in the eyes of a significant amount of Santa Monicians, I can continue to do a good job after three terms.”

Mayor Pro Tempore Gleam Davis, who has served on City Council since 2009,  said at the meeting that term limits decrease the productivity of a governing body at both the local, state and federal level. Furthermore, Davis argued that term limits can be used to oust popularly elected politicians that are opposed by a minority of voters, pointing to the example of Congressman John Lewis, the civil rights leader who has served as U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 5th congressional district since 1987 but would not be in office if there were term limits in Congress.

“I don’t agree with the idea of term limits. I think they have actually been proven to be quite deleterious to getting business done in Sacramento and other jurisdictions that have them like the City of Los Angeles,” Davis said. “To say that it is not political may be sincere but isn’t true because this will inevitably be viewed through that lens. I think we have term limits and they are called elections.”

Councilmember Tony Vazquez, who served on City Council from 1990-1994  before running again in 2012, opposed the notion of lifetime term limits but was open to the idea of limiting the number of consecutive terms an individual would be able to serve.

“I think that to exclude somebody to three terms and then you cannot ever come back is unconstitutional in my point of view,” Vazquez said. “I hate to see somebody come in at a young age of let’s say 30 years old and serve three terms, and he is excluded, or she is excluded, for the rest of their life.”

in News
<>Related Posts

Multiple Injuries Reported in Windward Ave Collision: REPORT

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

Emergency crews closed the affected intersection to secure the area and began cleanup efforts A vehicle collision involving at least...

Florida Congressman to Visit American Legion Palisades for Relief Fundraiser

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

The event aims to support the post’s relief efforts, with 100% of proceeds benefiting the cause Congressman Brian Mast, a...

Malibu to Host Dual Webinars June 17 on Fire Recovery and Wildfire Safety

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

Sessions to Inform and Support Residents Facing Fire-Related Challenges Homeowners recovering from the Palisades Fire and residents seeking to prepare...

City of Santa Monica Seeks Applicants for City Boards and Commissions

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

Deadline is June 17 for Open Civic Roles on Key City Advisory Boards The deadline is approaching for residents interested...

Second Doctor to Plead Guilty in Matthew Perry Ketamine Case, Faces Up to 40 Years

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

Doctor Admits to Illegally Supplying Ketamine to the Actor and His Assistant One of the physicians charged in connection with...

Santa Monica Releases 2024 Crime Stats, Highlights Safety Advances in New Report

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

The city claims the department launched a 2024-2028 Strategic Plan focusing on innovative policing and staff wellness The City of...

Army Corps Reaches Milestone in Completing in Palisades Debris Removal

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

As of June 15, the effort has cleared debris from an estimated 13,579 eligible parcels The U.S. Army Corps of...

Renovated Riviera Estate Hits Market for $25M

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

Inside, floor-to-ceiling windows flood the home with natural light, with nearly every room opening to a private deck or patio...

(Video) Home Front Build Maintains Original Architectural Vision For Modern Homes

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

For More Information, Go to homefrontbuild.com For More Information, Go to https://t.co/Ssb4O7uZdu pic.twitter.com/XspARQcKcb — Santa Monica Mirror (@SMMirror) June 16,...

(Video Recap) “No Kings” Protest Comes to Downtown Santa Monica

June 15, 2025

June 15, 2025

Palisades Park was one of a dozen LA locations where protestors took to the streets on Saturday to challenge ICE...

California Offers Mortgage Relief to Homeowners Displaced by Wildfires, Floods

June 15, 2025

June 15, 2025

CalAssist Mortgage Fund Provides up to $20,000 in Grants for Mortgage Payments California has opened applications for the CalAssist Mortgage...

Water and Sewer Rate Hikes Coming to Santa Monica for Infrastructure Upgrades

June 15, 2025

June 15, 2025

The rate adjustments will support routine Capital Improvement Projects, address inflation, and enhance water resiliency The Santa Monica City Council...

Senator Alex Padilla Forcibly Removed, Handcuffed at DHS Press Briefing in Los Angeles

June 13, 2025

June 13, 2025

Security or Censorship? Padilla Removed After Questioning Secretary Kristi Noem U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., was forcibly removed Thursday during...

Film Review: Ballerina

June 13, 2025

June 13, 2025

FILM REVIEWBALLERIINARated R125 MinutesReleased June 6th I’m happy to see the contrast in the style of movies playing this summer....

(Video) Senator Alex Padilla Being Forcibly Removed at Secretary Kristi Noem’s DHS Press Conference for Attempting to Ask Questions

June 12, 2025

June 12, 2025

In a disturbing and unprecedented move, FBI agents grabbed the sitting California Senator, dragged him out of the room, and...