June 27, 2012 - Term-limit group challenges council

Paper: Press-Enterprise, The (Riverside, CA)
Title: Term-limit group challenges council
Date: June 27, 2012
Author: Nelsy Rodriguez, Staff Writer

About a dozen public speakers at the Tuesday, June 26, Temecula City Council meeting pushed the elected officials to place on the November ballot a term-limit initiative that fell short of qualifying in the spring.

That initiative would limit council members to two consecutive four-year terms in office. It was deemed insufficient in the spring after the Riverside County registrar of voters could not verify that a random sampling of 500 signatures was valid.

According to the state elections code, council members maintain the right to add their own measures to the ballot.

"Years ago, I would have argued against term limits," said resident Paul Jacobs, "but your demonstrated selective hearing changed my opinion on the issue. I challenge you to place your trust in the hands of the people who have entrusted you to run this city."

Temecula's leaders have said that they don't intend to put term limits to the public because they are satisfied with the registrar's determination that the cause has insufficient support in Temecula.

"I wouldn't presume to determine what the voters would need," Mayor Chuck Washington said in response to a comment from a speaker that insinuated officials were stonewalling the effort, while telling the press that the effort was failing due to lack of interest. "We've kind of beat it to death."

Officials also shot down accusations that the failure of the petition drive was due to an intentional effort by the city clerk to deceive signature gatherers with false information about the requirements.

Edition: D
Section: MAINNEWS
Page: A5
Record Number: 11547429
(c) Copyright, 2012, The Press-Enterprise