No timeout on term limits

Re “On term limits,” editorial, Feb. 7

You scolded voters for rejecting Proposition 93, pointing out that we passed up a chance to fix term limits to punish the leaders who were rewarding themselves. Fair enough. But you say we will have to live with the old rules for a long time. Why? Why not resurrect Proposition 93 minus the provisions to give privilege to incumbents? I bet that would pass in a heartbeat.

Ross Cooper

San Diego

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As dismal as I believe the future of California is likely to be, once in awhile something happens that suggests a glimmer of hope. The defeat of Proposition 93 was such an event. This measure was the most despicable assault against honest government I have ever witnessed in California. Not only did special interest groups support the abomination, but even the measure itself was written in distorted language to flimflam the public. Yet somehow the people of California saw through all of that and did the right thing.

Lance B. Sjogren

San Pedro

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I respect the voters’ decision on Proposition 93. Because I believe improving the Legislature by reforming term limits is important for California’s future, I hope those who had problems with the initiative but support fixing term limits will work to propose effective plans of their own. As the author of two redistricting proposals, which I advanced despite opposition in my caucus and in Congress -- and which your recent editorial overlooked -- I continue to believe we need to end the system by which elected officials pick their voters instead of the other way around. To move toward these goals, California will need a dialogue that rises above venom and personal attacks. It was disappointing to see your editorial fail to meet that basic threshold. California needs redistricting reform and term-limits reform. And California needs newspapers to hold themselves to a higher standard than campaign commercials and provide thoughtful and unbiased perspective on issues.

Assembly Speaker

Fabian Nunez

Sacramento

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Re “Shooting themselves in the ballot box,” column, Feb. 7

George Skelton may be right that Proposition 93 could have won if written differently, but he is wrong about why it lost. The television campaign waged against the proposition directed at Nunez and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) was by far the dirtiest campaign I have ever seen. Unfortunately, voters don’t vote after critically analyzing the proposition, they vote based on television ads. These ads were disgusting, hitting the two legislators on a personal basis -- and, of course, they worked.

Martin A. Brower

Corona del Mar