by Stacey Selleck, U.S. Term Limits
Florida loves term limits. It is one of the best states in the country for term limits on elected officials. It has placed term limits on its governor, cabinet, legislature, most of its county commissioners, and many local offices. Florida was the first state to pass the term limits exclusive Article V application to begin the process of term limiting Congress. The one glaring government office absent from the mix is that of school board official. Currently, members of the school board statewide have no term limits.
Well, hopefully that’s about to change. The Constitution Review Commission, which meets once every twenty years to discuss changes to Florida governing document, has placed Amendment 8 on the general ballot this November. Voters will be asked if an 8 consecutive year limit should be placed on school board members.
If approved, counting of term years starts November 6, 2018 (election day). Those currently serving in office will have their prior years grandfathered in, meaning the clock will reset to zero despite their existing tenure in office.
Term limits on school board members is one of the most popular initiatives on the ballot. A recent poll conducted by Clearwater Research concluded that 60% of Florida residents approve the measure. Let’s hope all of the voters get to the polls as a 60% supermajority is required to add amendments to the Florida Constitution.
Read on to see who supports Amendment 8 and why.
SUPPORTERS
Leaders and Coalition Members
Erika Donalds, Constitution Revision commissioner sponsored the measure is a Collier County School Board member
U.S. Representative Ron DeSantis from Jacksonville, Florida, penned his support of Amendment 8 in an article published on termlimits.org entitled “Florida School Boards Need Term Limits.”
Adam Putnam, Florida Agriculture Commissioner
Richard Corcoran, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
Shawn Frost, Indian River School Board Chair
Scott Shine, Duval County School Board Member
Organizations
U.S. Term Limits, a national nonpartisan, nonprofit group that fights for term limits at all levels of government. Its offices are based in Melbourne, Florida. Click here to download a printable flyer.
INDIVIDUAL ARGUMENTS
Rep. Ron DeSantis, “No elected office, whether federal or local, is ever better off when run by career politicians. That’s why I support eight-year term limits for all school board members. I am confident this proposal would bring new energy and ideas to school boards, which too often suffer from the same untamed incumbency that paralyzes Congress.”
Florida Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam, “If term limits are good enough for the governor and the Legislature, they’re good enough for school boards.”
Erika Donalds, Collier County School Board Member, “Amendment 8 is Great for Florida’s future, and we are committed to communicating that message to all Floridians. As school board members, we are convinced that fresh ideas and diverse opportunities for innovation are essential to creating a system of public education that works for every student.”
Richard Corcoran, Florida House Speaker, “Term limits are important for any elected office. They promote fresh ideas and limit the power of special interests. That’s why I am excited about Amendment 8 appearing on the November ballot that will apply term limits of 8 consecutive years to school board members.”
References