Check the terms

Re “Donations can’t fail to catch Nunez’s eye,” June 4

Funny thing about term limits in the Legislature. Without them, people like Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) might never attain the office they seek because it would be already occupied. But once term limits have done their job and people like Nunez have the office, the “ins” want to change the rules so they can remain in power -- for the good of the people, of course.

As with so many matters, it all depends on whose ox is being gored. Thanks to The Times for bringing to our attention the clever way in which donations from powerful special-interest groups become a donation to Nunez’s campaign to keep himself in power in the Legislature for another six years. I hope California voters will see through this $1.68-million ruse and remember why term limits in the Legislature were a good idea in the first place.

MARY BERNSEN

Garden Grove

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I’m sure the term-limit ballot measure drafted by Nunez will be of great benefit to him. But when and by whom will modifications to term-limit laws be designed to benefit the people? The electorate should be allowed to keep someone in office if the person is sufficiently popular and deemed exemplary. My proposal would be to make a third term possible if an officeholder could win a super-majority, such as 55%. And even a fourth term if 60% of the vote could be mustered.

I can’t think of any fairer or more measurable way to quantify the extent of the officeholder’s desirability for extra terms from the perspective of the voters. And it would produce an incentive for the best possible performance in office.

JULES BRENNER

Hollywood