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Term-limit measure hits snag on way to ballot |
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Written by John Saiz | Patterson Irrigator
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Saturday, 19 July 2008 |
“(George Logan) totally ignores the written code and thinks he is above the law.”
— Donna Worley
Local activist, on the Patterson city attorney
An initiative that seeks to put term limits on Patterson politicians might not be eligible for November’s ballot, according to the city attorney.
Patterson City Attorney George Logan said petitioners failed to notify the public properly about the initiative. Logan said he would give specifics at the next City Council meeting, Aug. 4.
“There appears to be significant deficiencies,” Logan said.
According to state law, petitioners are required to publish their intent to circulate a petition, a summary of that petition and the summary’s title in a local, adjudicated newspaper. Patterson Irrigator records indicate that no such notice was placed in the paper.
Patterson resident Donna Worley, who organized signature-gathering efforts, wrote in an e-mail to the Irrigator this week that Logan’s objection is just his latest maneuver to thwart her initiative and that her petition followed the law.
“He totally ignores the written code and thinks he is above the law,” Worley accused in the e-mail. “He has broken every law in the book, every step of the way.”
She added that Logan failed to comply with election code when he did not prepare a summary of her petition within the 15-day state-mandated deadline.
In a follow-up e-mail, she wrote, “The required publication of the initiative ran in the Modesto Bee.”
Logan said he has approached the term-limit initiative just as he has handled other initiatives he has reviewed.
“That’s my job,” Logan said, “to make sure they conform to the law.”
Earlier this month, Worley submitted her term-limit petition with more than 1,000 signatures to City Hall. At the time, she said she suspected it might not make the November ballot because of when it was turned in.
However, petitioners gathered hundreds more than the 550-name minimum, so a special election could take place. State law requires 15 percent of registered voters in the city to sign an initiative for it to eligible for a special election.
“It will be on the ballot when we want it to be on the ballot,” Worley said the day she turned it in.
If passed, Worley’s initiative would limit the mayor and council members to two terms. Now, voters can continue to elect incumbents indefinitely.
An elected representative would be allowed to hold a council position for two four-year terms and could also be elected mayor for two two-year terms.
If someone is elected or appointed to fill a partial term, that would count as one of their two terms under the proposed rules.
The initiative has drawn criticism from the people running for mayor this year. Challenger Luis Molina and incumbent Becky Campo both have said term limits restrict voter choice, and if residents don’t want a politician in office for more than two terms, the person can be voted out.
Worley counters that her efforts provide real choices for voters.
“The initiative process is an avenue for the people to directly participate in government,” Worley said.
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Counting appointed terms of council members as part of their terms for limitation purposes was a low blow and gives away her motives as the two appointed council members obviously oppose West Park. That condition alone shows this is not about helping the voters but about making sure certain council members can't be reelected.
Lets see how much she really cares about the community if she requires a costly special vote to be paid for by the voters taxes.
Why should we trust her motives?