On July 25, the Nevada Supreme Court unanimously upheld the term limits law for state and local government elected officials that had been passed by the voters in 1994 and again in 1996. The Court said that the term limits on state legislators don’t start until the 2010 election. But it said that the limits on local government officials start this year. The legislative decision is Child v Lomax, no. 51802. The local decision is Miller v Burk, no. 51768.
Nevada permits the State Constitution to be amended by initiative, but the voters must pass the measure for two elections in a row. Nevada voters voted for the measure in 1994 and in 1996. The limits were for 12 years, starting with 1996. Certain candidates are now barred from running for re-election in the August 12 primary. Because the ballots have already been printed for that primary, there will be notices at the polling places naming the candidates for local government who are ineligible, warning the voters that certain candidates cannot be re-elected even though their names are on the ballot.
Term limits is one of the most vital steps toward reining in excessive government.
When the same ol’ corrupt and/or power-mad politicians can’t keep getting back into office, then ballot access will become more obviously necessary, too.
Perhaps when they realize the standard-issue politicians do not have unlimited power, and unlimited power to retain office, the people will begin to take more interest in their governments and, more important, in their own freedom.
And maybe they will realize one step toward regaining that freedom is a wider choice of candidates.
Term limits are inconsequential compared to gerrymandering.
Does it really matter if a certain politician has to give up power after a set number of years if he’s going to replaced with someone exactly like him?
Yes Stine, it does matter. Because even though he may be somewhat like the person he is replacing, it’s a new person bringing in new ideas, rather than the stagnation of ideas that long term politicians represent. Besides, in many case, the politician doesn’t become corrupt, especially at the local level, until he’s been there awhile, and has had a chance to build up his power base as well as his taste for power.
This might create more opportunities for the IAP.