Arlington term limits group kicks off as alternatives weighed during heated debate
Term limits discussion kicked off in Arlington City Hall and online Thursday as committee members weighed other Texas cities’ term limits and presented their opening thoughts about the contentious topic.
The 24-member committee representing nonprofit groups, businesses and residents spent over three hours in its first of three meetings addressing the 2018 vote that some said did not offer voters enough choices.
“I was given a binary choice between term limits or no term limits,” said committee member Jessica Black.
One by one, members pointed out alternatives they would like to explore, including a “cool-down period,” where termed out candidates would sit out an election cycle before being eligible for re-election, or longer term lengths of three or four years.
Committee members such as Jim Maibach said the current limits prevent dedicated public servants from advancing the city, pointing to the prosperity under Tommy Vandergriff’s 26 years as mayor. Maibach said he’s in favor of term limits that afford others a chance at political office without costing the city institutional knowledge.
“The term limits that got passed, I believe, are too short for the effectiveness of the council and who they serve,” he said.
Billy Wilson said although long-running officeholders may have worked well for some, the city has built a reputation of only listening to the voices of a few.
“I see the same people getting the same deals, the same people moving up,” he said.
Some committee members, many of whom voted for term limits, said the committee was formed prematurely. Sinikka Dickerson, who helped gather the more than 11,000 signatures that put term limits on the ballot, said she was “downright irate” that people claimed voters did not know what they were deciding.
“It is wrong,” she said. “Shame on you.”
Residents can vote on city charter changes every two years. The Term Limits Advisory Committee was charged by the city council to gauge public opinion, research other cities’ practices and deliver recommendations to the city council. Under the resolution passed, the committee may not eliminate term limits altogether.
Currently, residents can serve three two-year terms on the city council and three two-year terms as mayor, or up to 12 years total if elected to both positions.
Presenters Thursday discussed the history of term limits in Texas and compared Arlington’s policies with other cities.
Scott Houston, general counsel for Texas Municipal League, said term limits may encourage a “citizen legislature of more ordinary people.” However, he said the term limits may not bode as well for local government, where local officials usually do not serve as full-time officials.
“Some people would say they remove popular leaders, which may undermine democracy,” he said.
Mayor Jeff Williams began advertising for a committee to explore term limits in October 2018. Arlington City Hall officials say they considered applications received between Williams’ initial announcement and this July. Council members voted 7-2 to create the term limits committee during their June 30 meeting, after council members claimed the ballot measure did not afford residents the opportunity to discuss alternative term limits.
Alicia Gray, president of Heart of Arlington Neighborhood Association, told the committee she was not entirely clear on the term limit provision she voted for in 2018.
“At the time, I knew that it probably wasn’t exactly right, but it was a place to start,” she told committee members.
Another speaker, Mike Ledford, said the committee’s formation was an attempt to enact “marshmallow term limits” that will not ensure other voices are being heard.
Rob Cronin said discussing the previous vote is “not the debate we’re here to have.”
“We all are practicing democracy by being here tonight,” he said.
The committee will meet again Tuesday, July 21 and July 28. Committee Chair Chad Bates said the committee aims to present the council with a recommendation by early August. Bates said he would consider Ray Whitworth’s request that the committee file a “minority report” of findings in addition to its main report.
City council meetings can be viewed on the city’s website.
This story was originally published July 17, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
