Lombard voters want term limits for village leaders

Lombard voters expressed an overwhelming interest Tuesday in setting term limits for the village’s elected leaders.

Voters backed a nonbinding referendum request, 3,187 to 781, directing the village board to consider a referendum limiting the village president, clerk and trustees to three consecutive terms, according to unofficial results with all 47 precincts reporting.

Village officials have said such a proposal, if approved in the next election, would affect only 4-year seats and would allow all existing elected officials to serve three more terms.

Village President Bill Mueller, who is in his fourth term, was among those opposed, saying term limits restrict the will of voters. But supporters argued the measure would encourage fresh faces and ideas in local government, and prevent longtime officials from growing complacent.