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Committee advances Home Rule petition imposing term limits for mayor, council and school committee
Summary
The charter committee referred a Home Rule petition out with a favorable recommendation that adds term-limit language for the mayor, city council and school committee, including a one-term gap before a formerly term-limited official can run again; members debated two- versus three-term limits for mayor.
A charter committee advanced a Home Rule petition that would add term-limit language for Everett’s mayor, city council and school committee and referred the measure to the City Council with a favorable recommendation.
The petition revises Section 1 to change the word “district” to “ward” and includes language requiring that a councilor who has served consecutive full terms must allow the passage of one full term of service following the expiration of their term before becoming eligible again. The draft contains parallel language for the mayor and for school committee seats. The petition also adds a provision that time served after an appointment to fill a vacancy would not count toward term-limit restrictions.
Committee members said the measure would clarify eligibility after consecutive terms. Councilor Smith said she favored a longer allowance for mayors, arguing experience matters. "I personally think it should be made here for 3 terms," Smith said. Councilor Rogers supported a three-term limit for mayor as well, saying a 12-year span can be "pivotal in some of the accomplishments that you're able to achieve." Other members said two consecutive mayoral terms with a required one-term break are acceptable; the draft currently reads as two terms for mayor.
Members also discussed a potential gap scenario tied to the charter’s succession rules. The committee’s drafter noted the petition’s language requiring the passage of “one full term of service” does not address a specific succession scenario under the charter if a former mayor serving as a councilor becomes acting mayor midterm.
After debate over whether the change to term limits should be decided by voters or by the council via home rule petition, the committee voted to refer the amended Home Rule petition to the City Council with a favorable recommendation.
The referral does not set the final term-limit counts; members said the City Council floor debate will resolve whether the mayoral limit remains two terms or is changed to three.
Ending: The measure will move to the City Council for further consideration; committee members said they expect fuller debate on whether to keep the mayoral limit at two terms or increase it to three.
