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POSITION PAPER BY LAURIE OHMANN SCHLEY OPPOSITION TO TERM LIMITS The proposed charter amendment on terms limits doesn't quite mean we "throw the bums out" as popular as that might be. It limits a willing citizen's ability to serve the public in a city office to eight years. That doesn't mean eight years as Councilmember and maybe eight more as Mayor. It's eight years in his or her lifetime. Many of us on the Charter Commission do not believe in term limits and would like you to consider these points before you vote. Term limits may violate the Minnesota Constitution by locally imposing restrictions on who can serve in an elected office. Many lawyers agree that only the Legislature can change the re- quirement on who can serve in elected office. Term limits restricts the choice we have about who we want to represent us in City Hall. If someone has served us well for eight years, we can no longer choose to have that person's expertise and leadership serve us. After eight years, we can't choose based on purpose. We are forced to choose just for a different name. It takes a lot of time and energy for our leaders to become familiar with complex budgets, personnel issues, state mandates, and other key topics. This orientation comes largely from the City Staff. These people are employed, not elected. We ask them to perform important duties; we don't ask them to be accountable for the taxpayer's voice. Consider how much stronger their voices might be if they are the constant voice at City Hall. Term limits suggest that the very people we elected are to blame for all of our discontent. Let's take our own share of the blame and use the term limit power we already have — the power of the vote. Don't give up, via term limits, the power many people literally gave their lives for us to have. Instead, begin breaking the gridlock by re-electing those who produce results for our city and defeat those who aren't. Take five of your neighbors to the polls. Afterthe-election,-speak_up_by phone,Jax, orle_ttcr to your city officials. Tell them what you want from City Hall over and over again. With that kind of dialogue, we can do more for the voice of democracy than term limits ever could. I urge you to Vote NO on the charter amendment.