Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Term limitations in PG will wipe out majority of council Date: Fri, 6 Nov 92 11:28:29 EST Message-ID: \SE B;METROPOLITAN \HD Term limitations in PG will wipe out majority of council \BY Jim Keary \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES Anne MacKinnon never realized when she took a Prince George's County Council post two years ago how quickly she would rise in seniority. As a result of a term-limitation measure approved by county voters Tuesday, six of the nine council members will be forced from office in two years. That would automatically boost Miss MacKinnon from seventh to first in council seniority, as the six members ahead of her are pushed out. "Can you believe that?" she asked yesterday. "I think it's wrong. I think it will hurt the office and the county." But Judy Robinson, who led the petition drive to put term limits on the ballot, called its passage proof that people want change in county government, even though they also rejected a proposed property tax cap at the polls Tuesday. "Hopefully in two years, we'll get some leaders who won't be thinking of tax and spend," she said. Unofficial returns show the term-limit amendment, Question C, passing with 51.4 percent of the vote. The measure would prohibit council members and the county executive from serving more than two consecutive four-year terms and would apply to those already in office. Since the county executive and six of the council members are already in at least their second terms, they could not run again in 1994. Even before the election, some council members said they might challenge the law in court if it passed, but there was no suggestion of that yesterday. Miss MacKinnon said the limits could discourage people from seeking office: She may not have given up her General Assembly seat for the council if she knew she could face term limits in her new job. Council Chairman Richard Castaldi, who would be forced out by the limits, said the "staff will wield the power," since elected officials will have little historical perspective on the issues. But state Sen. Leo Green, Prince George's County Democrat, said there could be good to come from the term limits. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM