Should City Council Members Have Term Limits?

In Sierra Madre there are no term limits on any elected official. However, should there be?

At Tuesday night's City Council meeting, Councilmember Mary Ann MacGillivray introduced a discussion on whether there should be term limits on Council seats. She suggested that a ballot measure be put before voters in April that would limit the terms of Sierra Madre's elected officials, much like our commissioners have limited terms.

The other three members of the Council disagreed.

Mayor John Buchanan called term limits "paternalistic," "anti-democratic and anti-libertarian."

"I resent the idea that in one election my franchise can be restricted," said Buchanan.

Councilmember Josh Moran said that term limits make more sense at the state and federal level.

In April 1990 an advisory election was held and residents voted in favor of term limits: 1,629 voted yes while 242 voted no. Since this was an advisory, not an ordinance, it did not become an actual law.

But, what do you think? Take our poll and tell us in the comments below.