Colleyville should reject local term limits

Five city charter amendment proposals facing voters in Colleyville are a mixed bag of good, bad and simply housekeeping measures.

Proposition 1 would unnecessarily limit the terms of the mayor and council members.

No one would be allowed to serve more than two consecutive terms except in the case of a council member who, after serving two terms, is then elected mayor, thus earning another two terms. Someone who must leave because of term limits can restart their eligibility after being out of office for one three-year term.

Term limits are a tool for a political minority to unseat a popular elected official. They’re unnecessary because voters can easily rid themselves of an unpopular official at the ballot box.

Proposition 2 allows council members to vote electronically when the city gains that capability.

Proposition 3 would allow the council to veto the city manager’s hires for police chief, fire chief, public works director, finance department head and city secretary.

It’s bad to insert council politics into professional hiring. Hold the city manager accountable instead.

Proposition 4 cleans up charter language that’s no longer necessary.

Proposition 5 expands required financial disclosure for senior city staff and elected officials, good for uncovering potential conflicts of interest.

The Star-Telegram Editorial Board recommends approving propositions 2,4 and 5 while rejecting propositions 1 and 3.

This story was originally published October 25, 2016 at 5:39 PM with the headline "Colleyville should reject local term limits."