Term limits up for debate in Des Plaines

One of six elected officials in Des Plaines on the verge of leaving office due to term limits wants more discussion on the topic.

Fifth Ward Alderman Carla Brookman said she plans to host a meeting of the legal and licensing committee she chairs due to inquiries she's received from residents. As of Tuesday, the meeting had yet to be scheduled.

Term limits have been the law in Des Plaines since voters approved them by a more than 70 percent margin in 1998. Like the president of the United States, Des Plaines officials can only serve two four-year terms.

Brookman said she's received a dozen letters and e-mails from people who want more discussion and a forum to talk about the issue. But Brookman said that she has no current plans to ask her colleagues to put the question on November ballots.

"I have always voted with residents," Brookman said. "My vote reflects the will of the voters."

Any move to repeal term limits would have to go to voters, either through a petition drive by voters or a city council vote. A move by a resident fell short earlier this year when a challenge determined she had failed to get enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot for the February primary.

Brookman, Mayor Tony Arredia, 1st Ward Alderman Patricia Beauvais, 3rd Ward Alderman Laura Murphy, 7th Ward Alderman Don Smith and City Clerk Donna McAllister will have to step down next spring due to term limits. In spring 2007, three aldermen had to leave office in the first test of term limits.

Arredia opposes term limits, but said he didn't ask Brookman to bring the issue up.

"Term limits is something you already have. If you don't like someone, you vote them out," Arredia said.

Arredia said it "scares" him when he thinks about the city simultaneously losing six elected officials and their institutional knowledge.

"That's kind of spooky," Arredia said.

He added that he would have to talk to his family to decide whether to run again should term limits be overturned.

Rolling Meadows is the only other Northwest suburb with term limits.

Former Rolling Meadows Mayor Tom Menzel left office after two four-year terms in 2003 because of the limits he pushed for in 1991 while he was on the city council. Menzel questioned the motivation of officials who want to repeal term limits.

"The reason for changing it is the old guard wants to stay in office," Menzel said. "As we know, change is healthier than having the same people over and over again. It gives a fresh look."

Des Plaines resident Carl Gulley, who was active in supporting term limits, said the issue was decided a decade ago. "We already discussed it. We already gave our advice on how it should be so ... live with it," Gulley said.