Change needed on term limits

Re “Proposed initiative would ease term limits,” Feb. 16

I was delighted to see that there are new proposals to alter and lessen the restrictions on term limits. I would be happier if such limits were eliminated. Term limits are an illustration of the late 20th century American attitude of looking to place responsibility on others. It is the public’s duty to vote out those they feel are not doing the job. To deny that responsibility only further takes the public out of a process in which they should always be more involved.

KEN MARCUS

Los Angeles

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Many of us who believe that California desperately needs fair and appropriate legislative districts opposed the governor’s redistricting proposition in the 2005 special election on the promise of our Democratic leadership to bring a fair and reasonable redistricting plan forward in 2006. That leadership has reneged on this promise and now seeks to have its cake and eat it too by getting the term limits extended. I will not support extended term limits, however defined, until a fair, nonpartisan and competitive redistricting scheme is included in the deal.

ROBERT SILVER

Los Angeles

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Term limits have not worked. Instead of better government, we have a revolving door of inexperience and dysfunction. Decent and public-service-minded people are no longer attracted to political office. Candidates for statewide office either have to be celebrities or wealthy individuals who are looking for new territory to conquer. Legislative offices are occupied by those backed by special interests. None is allowed to stay long enough to develop expertise and make a real difference.

Voters should exercise their power and choose their representatives and then hold those elected accountable. This would reduce the constant fundraising frenzy and maybe allow a little more focus on good government.

Z. GREG KAHWAJIAN

Van Nuys

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Campaigns involving incumbents rarely are competitive. Although a redistricting overhaul would help, one of the biggest problems is that incumbents raise huge campaign war chests from special interests, swamping any would-be opponents.

A California Clean Money Campaign study of spending in California found that incumbents outspent their opponents in 97% of general election races in 2002-04 and every one of the primary races. Given that the same study found that the candidate who spent the most won 95% of the time, easing term limits without changing the way we finance election campaigns would virtually guarantee incumbents a free ride.

The solution is to ease term limits, overhaul redistricting and provide full public financing of campaigns.

TRENT LANGE

President

California Clean Money

Action Fund

Los Angeles