Coalition Wants to Limit Reelections

Declaring that long-entrenched politicians are unable to deal with Los Angeles’ growing problems and are vulnerable to corruption, a coalition of citizen groups and community leaders announced plans Monday to seek a Charter amendment limiting city officials to two consecutive terms.

The coalition said it plans to raise $500,000 to collect the 300,000 signatures necessary to qualify an initiative on the November, 1990, ballot.

Such a vote would threaten the future of most elected city officials. Of the 15 City Council members, all but two--Ruth Galanter and Nate Holden--are in at least their second term. Additionally, Mayor Tom Bradley, City Atty. James K. Hahn and Controller Rick Tuttle would be precluded from new terms.

“Gridlock is not only in our streets, it is in our political pipeline as well,” Brian Moore, a community activist and organizer of the Los Angeles City 2-Term Limit Initiative, told a press conference on the City Hall steps.

The only elected official publicly endorse the idea was eight-term Councilman Ernani Bernardi, who has been in office longer than any other city official.