[img]2441|right|John Nachbar||no_popup[/img]John Nachbar quietly packs a sense of humor, and he shortly demonstrated it yesterday.
As the city manager, Mr. Nachbar works under a contract, ostensibly at the pleasure of the City Council.
Council members come and go because term limits were imposed in the early 1990s.
City managers do not necessarily follow the pattern of their Council bosses. As professionals, they can remain for years.
Almost two months ago, Councilman Jeff Cooper raised the prospect of revisiting term limits even though he has three years left before he will be forced out.
With the debatable concept of term limits penetrating the air around City Hall, City Manager Nachbar was asked his opinion of term limits.
Pause.
Then a chuckle.
And then: “Since that is a policy question,” he said congenially, “that is one I will shy away from.”
No cajoling or prodding were needed.
Almost immediately, Mr. Nachbar added, “Let’s see what I will feel comfortable saying.
“I can see advantages and disadvantages.
“The advantage of term limits is that you assure there is a continuous supply of new thinking, and it enhances (wider community) involvement.
“Sometimes,” said Mr. Nachbar, now in his mid-50s, “you get elected officials who are in place for a long time. I guess there is a concern that maybe things can become a little staid. That is the argument against it.
“I think there is a public perception that term limits help insure that elected officials are not pursuing the job as a lifetime pursuit.
“I am familiar with the arguments against. On the other side, the advantage of elected officials who have many years in office is this: There is absolutely no substitute for experience.
“The best elected officials I have worked with,” said Mr. Nachbar, “have been long-tenured. Once I worked with a mayor who had been in office for 25 years. He was excellent.”
Now it is the turn of the Art Dept. at City Hall to engage in conclusion-drawing about the city manager’s preferences.
