OPINION: Better term limits for a better Wilsonville

In 2020, Wilsonville voters overwhelmingly approved term limits. The intent was to bring fresh ideas and approaches to the City Council and to the mayor’s role. These term limits limited anyone on the City Council to three terms (12 years), combined. This means that anyone serving as a city councilor for eight years, during which time they get to know how the city works, who then goes on to become mayor, would be limited to a single four-year mayoral term. An advantage of having a two-term mayor is the knowledge and relationships they will develop working with other cities, and the state and federal government. Having experience elected officials in both roles is key to keeping our city the highly functional community that we have come to expect. Measure 3-609 is intended to remedy that.

Additionally, the language in the 2020 term limit measure was such that serving even one day counts the same as serving an entire term. Measure 3-608 clarifies that anything less than one year is not a term.

By voting yes to both 3-608 and 3-609 we can have a balance of new faces on our city government AND experienced leaders. Vote yes and yes in May.

Siobhan Murphy

Wilsonville