Naperville voters could get say on term limits

The Naperville City Council has moved a step closer to putting term limits on the November ballot.

Councilmen on Tuesday directed city staff to draft referendum language that would limit councilmen and the mayor to three consecutive terms beginning in 2013.

"The fact of the matter is none of us are irreplaceable," Councilman Jim Boyajian said. "There have always been people here before us ... and there will be people after us. I don't think we should be threatened by that."

The Naperville Voters Education League has been collecting signatures on a petition to get term limits on the ballot. The group would need nearly 9,000 signatures but turned to the city council which could put the measure on the ballot itself with just five votes.

"For those of you who want what the people want, the only way to find out the answer is to put the question on the ballot," said Bill Eagan, the league's chairman. "For those of you against term limits we would ask that you set aside your personal opinion and give people a chance to have their voices heard."

He was among the nine residents speaking in favor of letting voters have a say.

Councilmen voted 7-1 to draft an ordinance that could put the issue on the ballot.

They specifically asked for language that would limit elected officials to three consecutive terms starting with people elected in 2013. It would not be retroactive so the first time someone could reach the limit is 2025.

Eagan's group was originally proposing a two-term maximum but supported three terms on Tuesday.

Councilman Kenn Miller said Tuesday that two terms would be shortsighted because there is a learning curve for new councilmen. If voters want to remove someone before his or her third term, he said, they can do so through elections.

Councilman Bob Fieseler expressed concern about the clarity of language in the referendum as well as whether it would hold up to legal challenges in the future.

Ultimately though, he approved drafting language along with Miller, Boyajian, Judy Brodhead, Doug Krause, Paul Hinterlong and Grant Wehrli. Richard Furstenau voted "no" and Mayor George Pradel was absent.

Furstenau said councilmen who want to continue to serve should be allowed to do so.

"It's important we have continuity of people," he said.

Councilmen could take a final vote on putting the matter on the ballot at their July 20 meeting.

Limits: Pradel was absent from vote