[Editor’s Note: In the spirit of the recent community discussion of term limits, here is a 1988 Los Angeles Times report on the City Hall attitude toward term limits six years before voters endorsed them.]
The City Council recently defeated proposals by new Councilmen Steven Gourley and Jim Boulgarides to limit Council and commission members to two terms in office.
Mr. Gourley, following up on a campaign promise, said that multiple terms in office breed arrogance and increase distance from the community.
He proposed a ballot initiative to allow voters to decide whether to limit the number of consecutive terms a council member can serve to two.
But Mayor Paul Jacobs, a Councilman serving his fourth term, said that every time a Council member seeks reelection, voters have the option of removing him or her from office.
First-term Councilwoman Jozelle Smith, who has changed her campaign position favoring a two-term limit, agreed with Mr. Jacobs.
“We do a disservice to the city when we mandate that a qualified person step down after two terms,” she said.
Mr. Jacobs, Ms. Smith and Councilman Richard Alexander voted against the measure.
A similar proposal by Mr. Boulgarides to limit commission members to two consecutive terms also was defeated, 3-2.
