State Rep. proposes term limits for local offices, longer terms for lawmakers

State Rep. John Becker wants to increase limits on lawmakers’ terms by four years and extend 12-year term limits to every elected office in Ohio.

The Republican lawmaker from Union Twp. introduced a joint resolution to set 12-year term limits for all state and local elected officials, excluding governor, secretary of state and other statewide offices and the leader in each chamber of the General Assembly.

Ohio voters approved 8-year term limits for state officials – two four-year Senate terms and four two-year House terms – in 1992 in a 68-32 vote.

Becker’s resolution is to add one more Senate term and two House terms, and apply the 12-year limit to every elected position from township trustee to school board to local judgeship. Becker said all offices being subject to limits would encourage more people to run for office. It is not unusual in many communities to have mayors, council members and other elected officials serving more than 12 years.

“It’s good to have opportunities for new blood, for new people to get in,” Becker said. “For a lot of people eyeballing offices, the best opportunity to run for that office is when that person decides to retire or die or, with term limits, simply forced out.”

Becker’s plan requires a change to the Ohio Constitution, so the resolution needs to pass each chamber with three-fifths of the vote and then would be on a statewide ballot for voters to approve.

“The voters will decide at the end of the day,” Becker said.

Becker said his plan probably doesn’t have the support of his colleagues in either party, but a panel of lawmakers and constitutional scholars might consider term limits in a wider review of the Ohio Constitution.

Jo Ann Davidson, a panel member and former Republican lawmaker and House speaker, declined to comment directly on Becker’s proposal, but said term limits have not been the silver bullet as envisioned.

“As we look at some of the problems we face in government now — trying to deal with the need for more bipartisanship — we’ve learned it’s not the magic answer,” Davidson said.

Davidson served 21 years in the Ohio House and was elected speaker in 1995, leaving the General Assembly under the newly imposed term limits. She serves on the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission, a panel of lawmakers, judges and others reviewing the state Constitution.

She said it may be time to review term limits.

“I got good advice when I came in to sit in the back bench and learn what it’s all about,” Davidson said. “With the term limits, it doesn’t give members an opportunity to do that much and they feel the need to jump right in the middle of things.”

Becker serving his first term in the Ohio House, hasn’t wasted any time. He has introduced 15 bills on topics ranging from elections reform to gun control since June.

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