Term limits on Naperville ballot

Naperville voters will get to decide whether to limit how long their leaders serve.

Councilmen on Tuesday approved putting a referendum on the Nov. 2 ballot asking voters if they want to prevent councilmen and the mayor from serving more than three terms consecutively.

The Naperville Voters Education League brought the issue to the council in hopes of getting it on the ballot with five positive votes in lieu of continuing to try to collect roughly 8,600 signatures on a petition.

"Let the people decide for themselves," said the group's leader, Bill Eagan. "It's democracy in action."

Mayor George Pradel, who is in his fourth term, said he is not in favor of term limits.

"I feel if someone is doing a good job in the position and people want them ... and the person is willing to serve, they should be able to do it," he said.

Councilman Doug Krause, who has been on the council since 1989, also cited the experience and institutional knowledge of incumbents.

However, Councilman Grant Wehrli said it is also easy for longtime councilmen to become complacent.

"While there is some knowledge that goes on in being here, anybody should be able to step up in a short matter of time and be able to do this job of overseeing their government," he said. "There is no legacy here. We are merely stewards sitting in these chairs trying to do the best."

Councilmen voted 6-3 to put a term limit referendum on the November ballot. Councilmen Judy Brodhead, Bob Fieseler, Kenn Miller, Grant Wehrli, Paul Hinterlong and Jim Boyajian voted in favor while Mayor George Pradel, Doug Krause and Richard Furstenau voted 'no.'

If voters decide to support term limits, councilmen and the mayor will not be able to serve more than three terms consecutively beginning in 2011. The limits would not retroactively apply to the terms current councilmen have already served.

"I think it's only fair we look forward," Miller said.