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Term limits would rob us of best office holders

Here’s why the currently proposed term limits would be bad for Arlington Heights. Most office holders are decent people, muddling through with good intentions and a degree of common sense. Only a few are incompetent clowns.

At the other end of the bell curve are a few others who have a knack for understanding issues, visualizing future challenges and getting things done.

They tend to win reelection because many voters recognize their virtues. Experience in office, term after term, increases their value. But these are the very people whose services to the community would be lost if term limits took effect.

This is especially true of lower level governmental units where the perks aren’t much, compared to those of officials in Washington, and people are attracted mostly by a desire for public service.

I make these observations based on having seen a large number of officials up close as a former journalist, who helped cover national political conventions back in the days of “smoked-filled rooms,” and as a former elected office holder, who interacted with state and local governments for many years.

As for those who should not hold public office, there is a simple way to get rid of them. It’s called an election.

Richard Frisbie

Arlington Heights

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