ESCONDIDO PROPOSAL TO PUT TERM LIMITS MEASURE ON BALLOT FAILS

A proposal to allow Escondido voters to decide this November whether they want term limits for the city’s elected officials failed to get enough votes to pass at a recent meeting of the City Council.

At its meeting on July 15, the council voted 2-2, with Mayor Paul Mcnamara and Councilwoman Consuelo Martinez voting no, on the proposed term limit ballot measure. The tie vote meant the motion failed.

Councilman Michael Morasco brought the term limit issue before the council. Morasco and Councilwoman Olga Diaz voted for the proposal.

As drafted by the city attorney, the proposal called for a two-term limit for the offices of mayor, council member and city treasurer, and a lifetime cap of four terms for those who served in more than one elective office.

“It gives an opportunity for new perspectives, new voices, new opinions, and new opportunities for people to rise to the occasion and serve their community,” Morasco said.

Martinez said she supports term limits when office holders stay in their positions for long periods of time, giving as an example the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, which saw no turnover for two decades before term limits were enacted.

Martinez said Escondido’s move to district elections for the City Council has already brought new members to the panel and that trend will continue in November when three council seats are up for election.

“I don’t see the immediate need of enacting term limits in our community at this time,” she said.

A city staff report said six of San Diego County’s 18 cities, plus the county, currently have term limits in place. Oceanside voters will consider term limits in November.