No on Ballot Measure C
ARGUMENT OPPOSINGIn a democracy the public has the ability to “term-out” candidates: it’s called VOTING. Why then do some council members waste taxpayer funds to see if we’re in favor of “Term Limits?” You, the voters already have the power to invoke term limits every election. The undersigned are opposed to Measure C because it takes away the voters’ choice to elect hard-working, dedicated elected officials with valuable experience. RPV incumbents have been turned away, and it was YOU, the voters, who made those choices. Has anyone failed to notice that California is in crisis? One contributing factor is term limits. The lack of “Corporate Memory” among the legislators has given control to their staff and the special interests that now control our state. The number of ill-advised bills that have been passed this session while our state was in financial crisis have increased the deficit, caused businesses to leave, and turned the legislature into a newcomer debating society in the hands of special interests. The belief that incumbents have an “edge” is disproved at virtually every election including the immediate past one. Tenure in office is no guarantee of re-election. This is especially true in local elections where the voting public has greater knowledge of elected officials. Our council meetings are televised and re-broadcast so that the public can evaluate our performance. We also believe that term limits will encourage “steppingstone” candidates only interested in higher office. We TRUST the voters. It is your decision whom you wish to elect. DON’T LET THE GOVERNMENT TELL YOU WHOM YOU CAN’T VOTE FOR! Vote
NO on TERM LIMITS!
They aren’t needed. VOTE NO on Measure C! Barbara Ferraro, Mayor Pro Tem John McTaggart, Councilman |
REBUTTAL In a democracy, only the voters can determine whether or not term limits should be enacted. Why are certain council members afraid to let the voters decide? Californians have consistently voted for term limits at the local and state levels over the past two decades because they want to avoid “Career Politicians” and want to return our democratic form of Government to representation by the people, not the chosen few. In our City’s 30-year history, only 2 incumbents have ever been defeated. In fact, in elections where there were open seats, many more of our residents decided to run for elected office! This is a ballot initiative regarding local term limits, not State term limits. We are not Sacramento and we do not need career politicians in our city. This initiative recognizes the large pool of talented and capable residents that can serve as elected leaders, if only they are allowed to! The Opponents to local term limits don’t want you to know that this initiative is NOT a LIFETIME ban. This initiative is structured to allow the voters to elect a candidate over and over again. That candidate must simply sit out one election for two years after two terms in office. This proposal opens up the process for new, talented people in our community, with new energy and new ideas, and levels the playing field for all challengers. WE DON’T NEED CAREER POLITICANS RUNNING RPV IN THE FUTURE! VOTE YES ON MEASURE C! Larry Clark |