Poway Doesn’t Need Term Limits

I adamantly believe in term limits for federal and state positions where politicians can amass large amounts of power over the nation, the state and your welfare. Many become rich while doing so.

Having said that, I am not sure term limits are needed in small communities like Poway.

Since incorporation Poway has had 18 council persons with only four serving more than eight years. The term limiters must be using one to four of them as the basis for their drive for limits.

Of the four, Betty Rexford was removed from office by a democratic process. Bob Emery retired after 28 years. I don’t know if he made a difference, but do think he was harmless at the least. From my observations Mickey Cafagna was respected by most civic leaders and political pundits. I have heard of no good reasons to question his reputation. The last is Don Higginson who I think has done a decent job during his tenure, but he could be the target. What am I missing in this picture?

I would like to have Councilman Grosch tell me why I should sign the petition and vote for term limits. I would like for him to tell me why Poway would be a better place to live today if we had term limits since inception and how any of these four individuals demeaned the evolution. How do he and his followers know that politicians become brain dead after eight years while people in other disciplines make contributions throughout their lifetimes? He must know there are some quality individuals who are ready, willing and able to make contributions for longer than eight years and who have a great deal of respect for the integrity of the office. For sure, term limits will get rid of the duds, but it will also eliminate some good ones. It’s like throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Why not rally the troops and eliminate the weak ones the old fashioned way—at the ballot box? Why an expensive exercise for a non problem? Is a mountain being made out of a molehill?

It seems Poway has adequately transitioned from a community in the country to a City in the Country and I can’t find much fault with those citizens who made it happen along the way, including the few who served more than eight years.

I will not vote for term limits for Poway, but fully expect it to pass. The Washington, D.C., crowd, extremists and political malcontents have so poisoned the well hardly anyone in the country trusts their elected officials anymore, including small communities like Poway.

Finally, be kind to animals whether they be in the home, on the open range or in a Chamber.

Tom Yarnall