Term limits will go on November ballot

Voters will have the chance to weigh in about term limits on the November 2012 ballot after Miami-Dade commissioners approved the measure on March 8, 2012

Voters will decide if they want to limit commissioners to two four-year terms, with the clock starting fresh so that incumbents can serve eight more years. 

In January, voters rejected term limits coupled with a huge salary increase for commissioners. This time the question on term limits will not include a salary hike.

Political activist Vanessa Brito plans to collect signatures to put a question on the ballot that will set the limit at two four-year terms and make that retroactive. Wealthy businessman Norman Braman, who bankrolled the recall of the previous mayor, said he would provide financial backing. If retroactive term limits passed, that would mean many commissioners could not run again.
 

The mayor is already limited to two four-year terms. 

If conflicting versions of the term-limit question land on the same ballot, its possible that a judge will be asked how the county should proceed. Former South Florida U.S. Attorney Kendall Coffey said a judge might do nothing and await the outcome of the election.

"There is law suggesting if the election itself might sort out the problem for you, a judge should stand back," Coffey said. 

Gimenez argued for term limits during his 2011 campaign, and he reiterated that promise in his Feb. 28, 2012 State of the County Address. The vote by commissioners to place the question on the November ballot is a key step toward that promise, and now we wait to see the outcome in November.

We rate this promise In the Works.