Council in favor of repealing term limits

WASILLA -- The Wasilla City Council has introduced a city ordinance that would repeal term limits for both city council and mayor positions. Introduced by council member Noel Lowe at the Monday meeting, the new ordinance would no longer restrain members from serving only two consecutive terms.

"I don't think we need term limits," said Lowe, who is serving his second consecutive term. "While there may be benefits for the incumbent at the national level, I don't think we have that here … It takes away the right to vote."

Lowe argued that while a national incumbent may benefit because of contribution from special interest groups, that is not the case in Wasilla, where most council members run for office with funds from their own pockets. He also argued that limiting the length of time a person can sit in public office takes away the voter's right to vote for whomever he or she feels would best serve the city.

While the rest of the council agreed with Lowe on the issue of term limits, there was some disagreement on how the repeal should take place. The current term limits were first ratified by the voters in 1994, and some council members believe that a vote by the people, rather than passing a city ordinance, may be the right way to go about repealing term limits. The law offices of Birch, Horton, Bittner and Cherot found that although voters first ratified the term limits, the council could legally repeal them without a public vote. While it may be legal, some council members say they feel it would be better to have the public vote.

"I only think it is fair that it be changed by the voters," said council member Robert Sande.

"I would like to see the current ordinance be voted on during the upcoming election year," said council member Colleen Sullivan-Leonard, who brought the history of Wasilla's term limits to the council at Monday night's meeting.

Council members Sullivan-Leonard, Sande and Diane Straub all voiced that they felt a vote by the people was the way to repeal the term limits. Council members Lowe, Ron Cox and Howard O'Neil voiced support for repealing the term limits with a vote by the council, but also acknowledged that if the public comes forward and asks for a public vote, they would be more than willing to wait until next year's election.

"If what we hear is that people want to vote, putting it on next year's ballot would be great," Lowe said.

Straub also said that her stance might change, based on the public comment period at the next council meeting.

"If it is not a big deal to [the voters], we can handle it here and it's done," said Straub, who ran unopposed in the last election. She and the rest of the council argue that allowing people who are interested in serving the public to continue that chance to serve is one of the ways that the city will keep the council seats full.

Cox reminded the audience that passing the ordinance does not mean Wasilla will be forced to have council members for life.

"The voter has a right to terminate someone they don't like," Cox said. "At the same time, they have a right to keep someone they do like."

Mayor Dianne Keller, in a letter to the city council, said she supports the repeal of term limits, but asked that it be done by a public vote.

This ordinance will be open for public comment at the Nov. 24 meeting at 7 p.m. at Wasilla City Hall. The council stated that the outcome of whether the ordinance will be voted in by the council or by a ratification of the voters will be based on the public comment made at that meeting. For more information, contact a council member or city hall at 373-9090.