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Peter Callaghan is a local columnist. He’s covered the statehouse and state politics since 1981. Before joining The News Tribune in 1985, the Stadium High grad worked for newspapers in Everett and Lewiston, Idaho, and for The Associated Press in Olympia and Seattle. Email Peter

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David Wickert covers Pierce County government. Before coming to The News Tribune in 1998, he covered local government for newspapers in Illinois, Virginia and Tennessee. Email David

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Les Blumenthal has been covering Washington, D.C. for The News Tribune since 1990, focusing on issues and politicians involving the state. Before joining The News Tribune, he spent 13 years working for The Associated Press in Seattle, Illinois and Washington, D.C. Email Les

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Political Buzz
Let's talk politics.
Monday, June 30th, 2008
Tacoma mayor -- once opposed to term limits -- opposes current move to abolish them
Posted by Jason Hagey @ 03:39:43 pm

Tacoma City Councilwoman Connie Ladenburg said she thinks she has enough support from her colleagues to pass a resolution tomorrow that would let voters decide this fall whether to abolish term limits for Tacoma council members.

She better not be counting on a "yes" vote from Mayor Bill Baarsma
.
Baarsma told me this afternoon that he isn't necessarily opposed to the idea of extending or removing term limits.

Baarsma actually served on the Charter Review Commission in the early '70s that is responsible for the current 10-year limit on consecutive service as a mayor or City Council member.

And he opposed the idea at the time.

Baarsma, then a bearded college professor, reasoned that voters get a chance every election to impose their own term limits.

But Baarsma doesn't like the way Ladenburg is attempting to rush the issue onto this fall's ballot.

The City Charter "shouldn't be amended on a piece-meal basis unless something is really broken," Baarsma said.

The charter has been reviewed three times since term limits were imposed in 1973, Baarsma noted, and the community has not cried out for a change in the term limit rule

"It's legitimate to discuss it," Baarsma said. "But it should be through the charter review process."

UPDATE: Ladenburg didn't get Baarsma's vote, but she didn't need it. The resolution passed 5-4, meaning voters will decide Nov. 4 whether to keep or eliminate term limits.

Categories: Tacoma • 8 comments

COMMENTS:

mjday @ 17:33 - Monday, June 30th, 2008 Email
Mayor Baarsma's thoughts help define this issue a little more. Thank you.

I did get a kick out of your statement "he isn't necessarily opposed to the idea of extending or removing term limits." That pretty much covers just about every possible position on the matter, doesn't it?
johnesherman @ 19:22 - Monday, June 30th, 2008 Email

Jason, I appreciate the link from said within your article. Good work. Thanks for the additional source citation.


cuyahoga @ 23:28 - Monday, June 30th, 2008 Email
I don't get Tacoma and Pierce County's fixation with term limits. They create a huge disincentive for running against an incumbent. Why would you run against an incumbent when you can just wait until they are term limited?
hacling @ 05:00 - Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 Email
Term limits are a good thing. Why can't Connie Ladenburg run for County Executive and create a dynasty?
sloremodeler @ 06:53 - Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 Email
I am generally for term limits, but they do have some disadvanatages. Currently, there appears to be a mindset that once elected, they are assured of two terms. I say this because after the incumbant's first term, rarely do they have legit competition in their second election. Thus we tend to get stuck for 8 years with each person, even if they are not doing an effective job. At least with term limits, legit candidates might be more inclinned to run, even if they are running against an incumbant. Of course the solution to this problem is to encourage good candidates to run and have voters be willing to not automatycally elect encumbants unless they are doing a good job.
DavidS_ @ 10:23 - Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 Email
Research exercise: "How often are incumbent members of the Tacoma City Council (inc. Mayor) not re-elected when actively seeking re-election?" "Who was the last one?"
JakeR @ 10:35 - Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 Email
http://www.TacomaUntapped.com/
How about we get rid of the term limits for them and they give us a FULL-TIME council???
papasan @ 00:57 - Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 Email
We don't need a full-time Council. What we NEED is to give them a full-time staff.
Council-Members have a lot on their plates. Voters/Residents are not unaware of this. Why not just give them the staff that they need for research, answering citizen complaints and questions, etc.
To change the Charter in this manner is just flat out WRONG. No public debate, no public input and were going to spend city funds that are already supposed to be spread thin on a Referendum? That's just plain wrong.
If Councilmember Ladenburg can't see an issue through to fruition in two terms, she either isn't working at it, or the issue is a bad idea. In either case, that's no reason for a third term.
What if she can't get the job done in three terms? Is she going to want to change the Charter again and ask for a fourth term?
We instituted term limits because we were sick of professional politicians constantly coming to the public trough for a paycheck. There is no reason to change the Charter and certainly not without the public input that is normally required. This sets a BAD precedent and the voters need to send a strong message to the Council.

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