March 29, 2024 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

Customers at These Palisades Stores Can Get Cash Rewards for Sharing Their Experience

March 29, 2024

March 29, 2024

Thumzup is Starting its L.A. Footprint Expansion with Pacific Palisades Thumzup, a company which aims to democratize the social media...

Homeless Man Sentenced to State Prison for Crimes Against Homeless Women

March 29, 2024

March 29, 2024

Man Pleads No Contest to Series of Sexual Assaults Anthony Pittman, currently homeless, has pled no contest to a series...

(Video) Series A Coffee Now Open in Beverly Hills at 8328 Wilshire Blvd

March 29, 2024

March 29, 2024

Located in the space that formerly housed a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Try the Black Pearl Iced Coffee. @smmirrornews...

Los Angeles County Braces for Heavy Rain, Snow, and Possible Thunderstorms Over Weekend

March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024

National Weather Service Issues Alerts for Flooding and Possible Tornado  According to the latest reports from the National Weather Service...

Hotel Workers to Speak Out on Harassment Endured at Santa Monica Hampton Inn

March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024

The Hotel Is One of Five Hotels in the Charter City That Are Still in a Labor Dispute By Zach...

Santa Monica Rotary Club Raises Over $21,000 for SMC Guardian Scholars Program

March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024

This Grant Will Provide Essential Support to Current and Former Foster Youth Enrolled at the College The Rotary Club of...

 (Video) Philz Coffee Set to Close Westside Location Next Month

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

The Franchise Recently Made Headlines for Changing Headquarters @smmirrornews Philz is closing its Santa Monica shop #coffeeaddict #coffee #coffeeshop #losangeles...

Fleurs et Sel Bakery Opens Storefront in West Adams, Welcomes Customers Three Days a Week

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Indulge in Freshly Baked Cookies at the New West Adams Location Fleurs et Sel Bakery, known for its delectable cookies...

Easter Specials Guide: Brunch Spots, Desserts, and More in West Los Angeles

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Discover the Best Easter Eats and Treats in LA for Your Holiday Celebration Easter is almost here, so here are...

Famous Literary Critic and Palisadian Passes Away at 92

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

A Memoriam Post Stated She Overturned Views on T. S. Eliot, Ezra Pound and Other Canonized Artists By Zach Armstrong...

Mixed-Use Development Set for Sloping Property along Chautauqua Boulevard

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

“Canyon Place” Is Set to Include Two Apartment Units and 1,415 Sq. Ft. of Office Space By Zach Armstrong A...

Over Five Miles of Venice Blvd. to Temporarily Close, Become Public Park in April

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

The Initiative, Which Started in 2010, Aims to Connect Communities and Promote Sustainable Transportation Options On Sunday, April 21 from...

(Video) Workers Strike at Luxury Hotel in Downtown Santa Monica

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Meanwhile, Unite Here Local 11 Recently Announced a Contract Was Ratified at 34 Hotels @smmirrornews Workers are striking at Proper...

(Video) Director Adam Wingard Talks About His Influences While Making GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

Director Adam Wingard Talks About His Influences While Making GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE at the Beyond Fest Screening...

Historic Union Contract Ratified by Thousands of Hotel Workers At 34 Hotels

March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024

UNITE HERE Local 11 Negotiates Agreement Ensuring Wage Increases  Hotel workers, who spearheaded the largest hotel strike in modern U.S....