Board Might Vote on Term Limit Measure

The Board of Supervisors today could finally decide whether to place a measure on the November ballot that would limit supervisors to two consecutive four-year terms in office.

Supervisor Marian Bergeson made the proposal two months ago, but the board has delayed action several times. Bergeson said that public opinion polls have found wide support for term limits and that residents should have a chance to decide the issue.

At a meeting last month, Bergeson and Supervisor William G. Steiner said they would support placing the measure on the ballot. But Supervisors Jim Silva and Roger R. Stanton expressed concerns about whether term limits wrongly restrict the choices available to voters.

Supervisor Don Saltarelli, who said last month that he was undecided on the issue, announced a few days ago that he has reached a decision but will not disclose it until today’s meeting.

Limiting supervisors’ terms was one element of a proposed county charter that voters rejected in March. A Times Orange County poll found that respondents strongly supported the term limits idea but opposed other parts of the charter.

Voters in several Orange County cities, including Orange, Yorba Linda and La Palma, will consider term limits for council members in November.