Term limits will give Los Gatos voters a real chance for fresh perspectives, new ideas and change.
Throughout Santa Clara County and California, voters have overwhelmingly supported term limits for public officials. Without them, over time, incumbents become entrenched politicians who often forget about the people they were elected to serve. Our local system of government flourishes when there is a constant flow of new citizens who can promote fresh ideas and solutions.
Of the other 14 cities in Santa Clara County 12 have enacted some form of term limits. Term limits also apply to California’s statewide elected officers, Senate and Assembly legislators.
Our incumbent Town Councilmembers never lose elections – in the past twenty years, not a single council member has failed to win reelection. And, in the past 20 years, only 11 citizens have sat on the 5-person Council.
Have these Councilmembers all been worthy of such long tenured terms? Or is the power of incumbency simply too much to overcome?
In 2019 the Town Council had the opportunity to proactively place a term limit initiative before the voters, but they chose not to. They did this even though they knew there was overwhelming support for term limits. You are voting today only because a citizen-led initiative qualified for the ballot.
Talented, qualified Los Gatos residents are at such a disadvantage that they are often discouraged from running. The result is that power remains in the hands of the same politicians and their benefactors almost indefinitely.
Measure XXXX* will break this cycle of entrenched incumbency by setting a reasonable limit of two council terms with a four-year break before allowing an individual to rerun for election.
Term limits will improve our political process and open our government. Vote YES on Measure B.
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