We have a unique opportunity to fight for term limits next week that we must not let slip away.
Florida’s Constitutional Revision Commission (CRC), which meets only once every 20 years, is holding a public hearing at the KING CENTER in Melbourne 1PM Monday, February 19th.
The CRC has the power to place constitutional amendment proposals directly onto the November ballot for Florida voters to decide. Right now, they are considering Proposal 43, which would put an eight-year term limit on all School Board members in our state.
Even though our president, governor, state legislature and countless local offices have eight-year term limits, school board members have no limits and can serve for life! Can you believe that? It’s an outrage.
The CRC’s intent for the Melbourne meeting on Monday 2/19 is to hear public comment so the 37 commissioners can figure out which proposals to put on the ballot. They are weighing many different ideas so there’s no guarantee term limits will make the cut.
This means we need to show up in great numbers on Monday to speak in favor of Proposal 43. A strong show of supporters speaking in favor of 8-year school board term limits, will go far to help assure this proposal makes it onto the ballot so we may fix our broken school boards. If we lack a presence, the Commission may conclude term limits are unimportant and leave it off the ballot. Showing up is essential.
Here’s the address and information for the meeting:
Constitutional Revision Commission – Public Hearing
1:00 PM EST February 19th, 2018
Eastern Florida State College
Maxwell C. King Center
3865 North Wickham Road
Melbourne, FL 32935
I highly recommend getting there early to submit a SPEAKER card as soon as you arrive. Each citizen gets two minutes to remark on their topic of choice. In our case, that is Proposal 43 for school board term limits.
Here are some suggested points to make when you speak:
- Eight is enough! School board members don’t need more time to do their jobs than the leader of the free world
- Eight year term limits bring fresh faces and ideas into school boards
- Eight year term limits sever relationships between incumbent officeholders and special interests
- Eight year term limits put school boards on a level playing field with Florida’s other political offices
- Eight year term limits deter corruption by rotating stagnant officials out of office
Even though Monday’s hearing is in Melbourne, you need not live in Melbourne or Brevard County. There is no residency requirement to attend or speak at this meeting. Here is a link to the full CRC public meeting calendar. Monday is the last CRC meeting in East-Central Florida.
Thank you so much for your activism and involvement!
I look forward to seeing you Monday.
Best,
Nick Tomboulides
Executive Director
U.S. Term Limits