Rumblings of Term Limits and Recall?

By Donna Westfall

The City of San Francisco has term limits for their elected officials.  It’s limited to two terms (8 years). They can be elected for a term of two successive 4 years terms, but requires 4 years off before rejoining through an election or an appointment.

In 2010, San Diego voted in two term limits because five of the those long-term supervisors were Republican, white, and graduates of San Diego State University. In other words, the Board was sometimes criticized for this homogeneity.  Similar to criticism of the Del Norte County Grand Jury.

Our Del Norte County Board of Supervisors currently has three long term supervisors on it.  David Finigan, Martha McClure and Gerry Hemmingsen. Rumblings from some people from the 5th District (Finigan’s) who are fed up with his totalitarian rule of BOS meetings and constant interruptions while people of the public try to express themselves within their allotted three minutes. Talk of a recall is in the works.  It only takes 700 signatures to put the recall on the 2016 ballot.

There may also be an initiative on the ballot to limit terms.  Two terms is plenty in this small town.  Otherwise, they get a foot hold that’s hard to impossible to eradicate.

Whoever decides to spearhead the Term Limits Initiative should also include language to make it retroactive so that new blood is assured.