Bergeson Proposes Putting Term Limits to November Vote

Voters might get a second chance to impose term limits on county supervisors despite the sound trouncing last week of a charter proposal that included a provision restricting board members to eight consecutive years in office.

Supervisor Marian Bergeson proposed Tuesday that the Board of Supervisors place a new term-limits measure on the November ballot. She suggested the board discuss the issue at its Tuesday meeting.

“It seems like there is strong support in the community for this,” Bergeson said. “It makes sense to have voters make a determination about it.”

Term limits were a key component of the failed charter proposal, Measure T, on the March 26 ballot. The charter was designed to reform county government in the wake of the bankruptcy by establishing a powerful chief executive officer and converting some elective county posts such as treasurer into appointive ones.

A Times Orange County Poll conducted in early March found that nearly 80% of respondents favored term limits but that other provisions of the charter--such as converting elective posts into appointive ones--were far less popular.

Under Bergeson’s proposed ballot measure, supervisors as well as other elected county officers such as treasurer, auditor, public administrator and clerk-recorder, would be limited to two consecutive four-year terms in office.

State law prohibits the county from imposing term limits on the sheriff, district attorney and assessor, which are positions established by the state Constitution.

If approved, the measure would apply to any official whose term begins after Jan. 1, 1997, including the two new supervisors due to be elected in November.

At least half a dozen Orange County cities also plan to place term-restricting initiatives on the November ballot. A state law that took effect in January gives local agencies the right to seek voter approval for term limits.

Some anti-tax activists who opposed Measure T favor Bergeson’s proposal. But others demanded Tuesday that the Board of Supervisors form a committee to draft a more radical charter for placement on the November ballot.

“Orange County needs real reform,” said Patrick Quaney, leader of the No on Measure T campaign.

Additionally, activists want the supervisors to eliminate the position of chief executive officer, schedule all their weekly meetings at night and allow people attending the sessions to park for free. The board now conducts one nightly meeting per month.

In other action Tuesday, supervisors voted 3-1 to allocate $10,000 to Laura’s House Inc., a San Clemente shelter and walk-in center for victims of domestic violence. Supervisor Jim Silva voted against the proposal and Supervisor William G. Steiner was absent from the meeting.