Recent interviews with new
Chadds Ford Supervisor Keith Klaver and the man he replaced on the board, Garry
Paul bring to mind the concept of term limits.
Garry Paul, while serving a
total of eight years on the Board of Supervisors, was pretty much a
one-and-done supervisor. He chose not to seek re-election after serving one
full six-year term on his own. The other two years were from the unexpired term
of former Supervisor Jim Shipley who left the board early.
Keith Klaver, who just assumed
the position is on record as saying he will only serve one term.
Compared to other supervisors
in the area, this is a good sign. Too many continually run for office as if
they were congressmen and senators.
Both Messrs. Paul and Klaver
believe in the one and done theory for holding political office. As Mr. Paul
put it, new people with them bring fresh ideas.
We agree, though this is only
one form of term limit, one that’s self-imposed.
Another form of limiting terms
is through legislation and amendment. This is what allows the president to
serve only two terms. The same holds for most governors and mayors. Some people
like that idea and want to extend it across the board for all public elected
offices.
Perhaps, though, there is a
better way of limiting terms and one without relying on the good will of those
who seek public office or forcing limits via legislation.
If even half the people who
complain about politicians serving too long would actually honor their own vow
to “throw the bums out” and not continually re-elect the same person. This
would do the trick, too, but there is a flaw to the concept.
Some people, too many actually,
are intellectually lazy and will vote for the same person out of reflex or
habit. Despite the big talk from and about the tea party types in 2010, more
incumbents won re-election than were turned out of office. Any time you hear
the phrase “If only people would…” rest assured, they won’t.
One of the flaws with
legislated term limits is a situation where a representative is actually doing
the proper job, serving his or her constituency with dignity and respect and
while honoring the oath of office to preserve, protect and defend the
Constitution. A person such as this is deserving of being re-elected but the
public would be prohibited from voting for him because of mandated term limits.
There is another type of term
limitation program, one that should be in force but likely never will be.
Eliminate all pensions for elected office. Give representatives and senators a
fair salary for their service, but they get no pension. Don’t let them feed at
the public trough forever the way they do now. And maybe let’s make Congress
more like township boards of supervisors—turn the job back into a part time
gig.
A pipe dream? Of course it is.
So maybe it’s a good thing there are people who are willing to serve just one
term and be done with it, even if only on the township level.
