Politics & Government

Dunedin Charter Amendment 4: What a Yes Vote Means

Here's a look at Dunedin Charter Amendment 4 and what a yes vote on it means at the polls.

Dunedin Patch has created a guide on each of the six city amendments. Here's a look at Dunedin Charter Amendment 4 and what a yes vote on it means at the polls.

Amendment 4: Providing for Term Limits of Mayor and Commissioners

The language on the ballot will look like this:

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Shall the City Charter, pursuant to Ordinance 12-19, be amended to provide that the Mayor is limited to serving two full four year terms as Mayor and that Commissioners are limited to serving two full four year terms as Commissioners?

This question is asking voters if the language in the city charter should be changed to impose term limits on the city's elected officials. As it stands, city officials can run and serve an unlimited number of terms.

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A "yes" vote would limit elected city officials to two, consecutive four-year terms. If an official is term-limited out of his or her seat, they could either run again for the same seat in four years, or run for another seat in the following election.

A "no" vote would leave the charter language as it is, allowing elected officials to serve as many terms as they are voted in.

Proponents tend to say term limits would help bring "fresh blood" to city politics. 

Opponents tend to argue that people can vote an official out of office at the polls. If an elected official is doing a good job, term limits, they argue, may take away a voter's choice to keep them in office.


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