Voters approve Measure F for term limits on city council
Change proposed by Dean, Dougherty caps members at two terms
By Steven Raphael
Campbell residents approved Measure F that limits city council members to two consecutive terms, by a margin of nearly 3-to-1 last week. The measure was supported by 74.5 percent of voters.
Council members will now be limited to two consecutive four-year terms, but after a break of two years, former council members may again run for council.
"I think you can do most of what you need to do in eight years," said Councilman Bob Dougherty, one of the two councilmen who proposed the measure.
Dougherty said that after council members have served for several years, they settle into a routine and may stop thinking of new ideas. Term limits will help the council to constantly have fresh ideas, Dougherty said, by giving "new blood a chance to find new ways of looking at things."
Terms served before this year's election will not be counted toward the two-term limit. Consequently, council members elected this year will be able to run again in 2004, and council members elected in 2002 will be able to run again in 2006, regardless of the number of terms they have already served.
Along with Councilman Matthew Dean, Dougherty proposed the measure two years ago. It was on the 1998 ballot as an advisory measure, and was added to the 2000 ballot after voters agreed to the concept.
True to his word, Dougherty, who is completing his second term, is not running for reelection. Four years ago, prior to his second term, Dougherty pledged not to run for a third, stating, "Two terms should be enough."
While term limits represents a change of policy for Campbell, it is not uncommon for California cities. Campbell was one of the last cities in the West Valley to impose term limits on its city council, according to City Clerk Anne Bybee.
Yet, some question the importance of the measure. Jeanette Watson, who was first elected in 1985 and is currently serving her fourth consecutive term on council, said the democratic procedure should suffice.
"I'm not against the proposal, but I don't really feel it's necessary," Watson said. "If the citizens don't want you in office, they'll kick you out."
None of the other city items on the ballot were contested.
The two council seats that were available will be filled by Councilman Matthew Dean, who will serve his second term, and Donald Burr, who replace Dougherty.
Burr, 65, served two terms on city council, from 1988 through 1996. Before that, he was Campbell's police chief for 16 years, retiring in 1987.
Dean received 51.1 percent of the Campbell vote, while Burr received 48.9 percent. However, these numbers are irrelevant, according to Bybee. She said that, in an uncontested race, even if a candidate receives zero percent of the vote, they would still win.
Bybee will continue as city clerk, a position she has held since 1992. She ran uncontested, receiving 100 percent of the vote.
Gerald Kennedy (who is married to Mayor Jane Kennedy) will also continue as city treasurer.
Over the past 20 years, Bybee said, the city clerk and city treasurer positions have only been contested once, in 1992, when both Bybee and Kennedy were elected.
Campbell, California
