Revisiting Consolidated Government, Term Limits. Its happening right now!

[stephendare]

The Charter Revision Committee.

What the hell?

Anyone in on this one?

[Dog Walker]

Stephen, Have to disagree somewhat.  Remember the days of the thirty year councilmen.  You had to kill them with an axe and drag them out of the council chamber by their heels to get rid of them.  No limits led to a lot of worse corruption than we have now.

I will agree that two terms is too short a time.  Maybe extend it to three or four?

[Charles Hunter]

I think some way to stagger the terms would be good. That way only half the Council would be up for election at the same time, and there would be folks with at least 2 years experience when the next crop of Newbies comes aboard.  And, yes, for the transition, some council members would either get longer terms, or maybe a 2 year term, but term limits waived for them.

Also, term limits need to have a longer "sitting out" period (if not "forever") to cut down on recycled career politicians.  I think on the current council, that would apply to Crescembini, W. Jones, and Lee.

[stjr]

How about a bicameral legislative body, like Congress or the State legislature.  Obviously, based on these examples it may not be ideal, but it may be better than what we have now.

With one house elected by district, and the other serving exclusively at large, maybe we would get more and better decisions based on the whole of the city than just by parts.  You know, "united we stand, divided we fall".  Too much of Jax politics is parochial, not big picture with an overall vision.  I would hope this would cure that problem.