Woodstock To Consider Term Limits

The issue of term limits will once again be considered by the Woodstock City Council during its meeting tonight.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Chambers at City Center.

The resolution would support the state legislature amending the city's charter to allow the mayor or council member to serve no more than four, consecutive four-year terms in their respective positions. It would also prohibit a person serving as mayor and then council member or vice versa if the combined years of service reaches four terms.

However, the proposal does allow for some leeway. If during the period of qualifying for a term limited elected official spurs no one to formally declare their candidacy by the end of the qualifying period, the city will open qualifying for another two weeks and the elected official who was originally barred from running for another term can qualify for the seat.

If that person is elected, the term limits would not apply to that candidate.

The city proposed the same change to its city charter to be considered during the 2011 Georgia legislative session, but the measure did not get the required unanimous support by the Cherokee legislative delegation to be brought to the full general assembly. 

At least one other city has asked the legislature to consider term limits. The city of Canton during its meeting on Nov. 15 approved a similar measure to amend its charter to impose term limits.

Open the attached .PDF to see what else is on the agenda.

What are your opinions on term limits? Tell us in the comments!