Term Limit Ruling Wider Than Originally Thought

BY BUDDY NEVINS

 

Florida’s Supreme Court not only approved term limits on County Commissioners in its landmark ruling last week.

The decision was much wider than that, permitting term limits on Broward Property Appraiser, Clerk of the Court, Supervisor of Elections and Sheriff, too.   I’m not sure if it includes the State Attorney or Public Defender since they are part of the judicial branch of government.

I didn’t see that in any other media outlet.  Maybe I was wrongly interpreting the decision.

So I checked with super lawyer Bill Scherer, whose challenge to term limits ended up at the Supreme Court.

“That’s the way I read it,” Scherer said.

Two other lawyers questioned agreed with Scherer.

So far the Property Appraiser, Clerk, Supervisor of Elections and Sheriff are safe.  There is no push to expand term limits to include them.

And it is likely that if County Commissioners decide to put term limits on the ballot, it wouldn’t affect the current office holders.

Commissioners are limited to a 12-year term limit.  I doubt that Property Appraiser Lori Parrish, Clerk Howard Forman, Supervisor Brenda Snipes or Sheriff Al Lamberti will want to serve even another eight years, much less 12.

Voters would have to approve the term limits, of course. Is there any doubt they would?

The ruling can be read here.



9 Responses to “Term Limit Ruling Wider Than Originally Thought”

  1. Plain Language says:

    Term limits for the constitutional officers has been considered many times. Each time heavy lobbying has kept it from happening. Changing these offices to non-elected officials appointed on merit has also been discussed. Voters would approve either one if placed on the ballot.

  2. Kevin says:

    Buddy,

    I seriously doubt that the ruling would affect State Attorneys, Public Defenders, or Circuit Court Judges, since these are usually multi-county offices (except in Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, PB), and the Supreme Court ruling only deals with constitutional officers in Charter Counties. It’s my understanding that the ruling does not affect non-charter counties (the great majority of counties in Florida; however, about 80% of Florida’s population lives in charter counties since all the heavily-populated counties have charters.

    I’d also be surprised if it affects School Boards, which are really separate from county gubmint.

    Kevin.

    FROM BUDDY:

    I’m sure it doesn’t affect School Boards, which are governed with a special sets of statutes.

  3. concernedcitizen says:

    I think term limits is good for the voter

  4. Voter says:

    I would like to see term limits placed on all those position and city commissioners as well. I think some people get to comfortable in their positions and sometimes forget what the greater good is about. I think the longer they are in office they start change prospective to whats in it for me.

  5. Dan says:

    It’s a dual edged sword. I used to be in favor of term limits and led the charge for the limitation. I now believe it has forced us to lose very good public servants and ultimately produced mediocre public policy decisions at best and communities not getting their fair share at worst.

  6. Lamberti is garbage says:

    I don’t think Al Lamberti will have to worry about term limits. I think he will have to worry about taking a plea deal.

  7. City Activist Robert Walsh says:

    To ” Lamberti is garbage” . You keep referring that Al Lamberti will be arrested etc. What are you refering to? Plea deal for what?. Tell me more,.

  8. James Joyce says:

    How ’bout some term limits for all these condo commando’s and HOA dictators!!!

  9. Lamberti is garbage says:

    We here at BSO are all sick of the unethical, illegal crap that Lamberti keeps doing. I can’t say anymore than that right now.