We're open to the idea of easing term limits for members of the Jefferson City Council.
Third Ward Councilman Ken Hussey raised the issue during a Wednesday meeting of the Council Committee on Administration. The concept remains in the formative stage and ultimately would require voter approval of an amendment to the City Charter.
A citywide vote is required to alter a Charter provision approved by voters in 1993 to limit council terms to a lifetime total of eight years - four terms of two years.
Hussey's proposal would replace the prohibition after eight years with a break. After a hiatus - yet to be determined - a former council member again would be eligible to serve.
Residents must be at least age 21 to serve on the City Council. Hussey noted: "Somebody could be 29 years old and prohibited to serve on the council ever again. In my mind, it didn't make sense to have a lifetime ban."
Term limits - at the federal, state and local levels - once were fashionable among voters as an automatic method to unseat "career politicians."
The nature of representative government is an individual voter's choice doesn't always align with the majority decision.
Once elected, an office-holder does enjoy the advantage of the incumbency, but the advantage is more pronounced at higher levels of government.
At the local level, we believe there is no substitute for vigorous campaigning.
And, at every level of government except the presidency, voters have witnessed a trend toward fewer candidates - and, consequently, fewer contests. The April City Council election will feature only two races for the five seats to be filled.
We believe voters who favored term limits essentially voted to disenfranchise themselves at some elections; they may not re-elect an incumbent facing term limits, no matter how effective the office-holder may be.
In addition to restricting incumbent council members, term limits restrict voters.
A City Charter amendment to replace a lifelong ban with a mandatory hiatus would provide voters an opportunity to re-evaluate a decades-old decision.