City of La Mesa Council Term Limits, Proposition K (November 2014)

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A City of La Mesa Council Term Limits, Proposition K ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the city of La Mesa in San Diego County, California. It was approved.

Proposition K imposed term limits preventing any city council member, including the mayor, from running for more than three consecutive terms in office.

Election results

City of La Mesa, Proposition K
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		9,023	66.56%
No		4,534	33.44%

Election results via: San Diego County Registrar of Voters

Text of measure

Ballot question

The question on the ballot:

“

Shall the Ordinance amending the La Mesa Municipal Code to impose a three consecutive terms limit on the office of City Council Member, Mayor or any combination of terms thereof be adopted?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis was prepared for Measure K:

“	The La Mesa Municipal Code (Municipal Code) does not impose any type of a terms limit on the office of city council member, mayor, or any combination of terms thereof. Presently, therefore, an individual may seek election to the office of city council member, mayor, or any combination of terms thereof, for an unlimited number of terms. This measure, placed on the ballot by a petition signed by the required number of voters, would amend the Municipal Code to impose a terms limit on the office of city council member, mayor, or any combination of terms thereof, in the following manner: No person shall serve more than three consecutive terms of office as a member of the city council, or as mayor, or any combination thereof. Any person who has served three consecutive terms as a member of the city council, mayor or any combination of terms thereof, shall not be eligible to serve another term until the expiration of a least four years. The three consecutive terms limit shall apply prospectively only to those terms of office which commence on or after November 4, 2014. If the measure is passed by the voters, it shall not be amended or repealed except by a majority vote of the voters of the City of La Mesa at a regularly scheduled election.	”
—City Attorney

Support

Supporters

The following individuals signed the official arguments in favor of Measure K:

• Kristine Alessio, Councilmember, City of La Mesa
• Russell Buckley, Retired Educator, Retired Navy Commander
• Scott Kidwell, I.B.E.W Local 569 Electrician, Former La Mesa Community Service Commissioner
• Joan McWhirter, Registered Nurse
• Bill Baber, La Mesa - Spring Valley School District Trustee

Arguments in favor

The following was submitted as the official arguments in favor of Measure K:

“	YES on Proposition K for La Mesa Term Limits to limit politicians to three consecutive terms as either Mayor or City Councilmember (or any combination thereof). After serving three consecutive terms (12 years) the politician must wait one term (4 years) before running for office again. YES on K for Term Limits to take government back from career politicians. Politicians who spend too much time in office stop representing us, and start representing themselves. If they are periodically forced to return to normal civilian life, they will consider the long term effects of the legislation they impose on the rest of us. YES on K for Term Limits to help ensure the voice of the people will be heard, not special interests. This allows new faces with fresh ideas and energy to serve our community. We need a City Council that reflects the diversity of our community. YES on K for Term Limits to help reduce career politicians overwhelming campaign advantages. High name recognition – regulatory power – special interest contributions – tip the scales against start-up candidates. Enough is enough! Prop K is democracy in action - this is your vote to limit career politicians. YES on K for Term Limits because this ordinance is a measured balanced approach modeled after the state term limits law passed by La Mesa voters in June 2012. We have term limits for our President, Governor, State Legislators, and County Supervisors - why should our Mayor and Council be exempt? Join the more than 4,000 La Mesa residents who signed petitions to put this initiative on the ballot. Let’s help break the lifetime incumbent stranglehold on City Hall and return the keys of government to its rightful owners: the ordinary, hard-working, taxpaying citizens of La Mesa. Vote YES on K for La Mesa Term Limits.	”
—Kristine Alessio, Russell Buckley, Scott Kidwell, Joan McWhirter, Bill Baber

Opposition

Opponents

Bob Duggan, Kristin Kjaero, Dexter Levy and Gary Nach signed the official arguments in opposition to Measure K.

Arguments against

The following was submitted as the official arguments in opposition to Measure K:

“	The First Amendment guarantees freedom of expression. Your vote allows you to put teeth behind your opinions. Whether it’s the nations founding, civil rights, suffragettes or other paths, your right to vote is a legacy of sacrifice and struggle far too precious to limit. And that’s what this measure does - it limits your ability to choose, not candidates’ abilities to run. This measure isn’t about what you think of current council members. La Mesa has 100+ years of elections behind us, and who knows what the world will be in 2026 when this would take effect? This is about what legacy you’ll pass along. If one is concerned about “career politicians” this isn’t the answer, and would come with seriously negative side effects. Experience matters! Council’s job is to direct staff but inexperience leaders defer more to staff, and term limits ensure that special interests have more experience than the people you elect. In their last four years, councilmembers will have no need to be responsive to you, or tone down their rhetoric. You can vote someone out now, but term limits would take away your right to retain someone if you believe they have merit. The only people who would gain from this are those who want to eliminate competition, and special interests. That’s no reason to limit your right to choose - don’t give it away! Endorsed by Dave Allen, retired City Councilman, Barbara Cleves Anderson, Mary Jane & Harold Bailey, Alison & Hal Drew, Helen Givens, Anthony Mc Ivor, Jim Melvin, Suzanne Merrill-Nach M.D., Donna Niemeier, Stuart Strenger & Crit Stuart. For more information and endorsements, please visit: www.NoTermLimitsInLaMesa.com. No Term Limits In La Mesa on Facebook NoTermLimitsLM on Twitter	”
—Bob Duggan, Kristin Kjaero, Dexter Levy and Gary Nach

See also

• Local term limits on the ballot
• San Diego County, California ballot measures
• November 4, 2014 ballot measures in California

External links

Suggest a link

• San Diego County Elections Office website