Term limits to be addressed at Public meeting in El Paso County

El Paso County Commissioners agreed Thursday to host a formal public meeting next year on whether additional term limit measures should be placed on a future ballot with wording different from what appeared on the Nov. 2 election ballot.

“Having heard from enough people, I am willing to commit to holding a legally advertised public meeting… where all sides — the for’s, the against’s, the undecided’s — will have their voices heard,” said Commission Chairman Dennis Hisey at Thursday’s board meeting.

Unlike an informal town hall meeting, a public meeting is governed by Colorado open meeting laws and is the only avenue for an elected body, such as the commission, to take official action, said County Attorney Bill Louis.

All of the measures passed by more than 60 percent of the vote, but some voters now say they didn’t understand the question and voted opposite of what they intended. The measures asked voters whether elected officials should “be limited to serving three consecutive terms.”

Commissioner Sallie Clark said she thinks all options need to be considered. Earlier this week, she requested that Louis’ office explore whether the commission, as the body that referred the measures to the ballot, can legislate a term-limit reduction, back to two, via a board resolution. Such action would essentially rescind the Nov. 2 vote.   – More -