Term limits vote a head-scratcher

First of all, I want to commend the Naperville Voter Education League and Bill Eagan for their work on term limits. I think that the length which our elected officials serve is something that is worthy of discussion, and I am truly impressed by the organization of people at a grass-roots level to make an important change.

But while watching a recent Naperville City Council meeting, I couldn't help but scratch my head. A referendum on term limits seems to me to be oddly paradoxical. If the majority of people in this city don't want officials to serve more than three consecutive terms (as would be indicated by a positive vote on this question), why doesn't this majority simply vote in new candidates when they are presented this opportunity every other year?

There is certainly no shortage of qualified, smart people who could serve on the city council who reside here in Naperville. This to me is sadly yet another example of the residents of Naperville forgetting about the power that they have at the ballot box in the municipal elections. When so few residents vote in Naperville elections on odd years, the power of incumbency is extraordinarily strong.

Voting for this referendum in November is like us voters confessing that we cant make the right decision about who should run the city when we vote each April - a truly scary thought for a country built on democracy and the results of elections. I have to side with Councilmen Doug Krause and Richard Furstaneau and Mayor George Pradel on this one. If the residents of Naperville feel that they aren't satisfied with the current make up of the council, I would hope that they get out and vote April 2011 for the strongest candidate, incumbent or newcomer.

Alex Hinch

Naperville