Lakeville voters reject petition to impose two-term limits on selectmen and board of health

Town of Lakeville voters turned down a petitioned proposal to impose two-term limits on elected members of the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Health.

Petitioners asked the town to vote on a two-part motion: first to determine whether the term-limits question would be decided by secret ballot; second to adopt a rule barring candidates who have served two terms from seeking the same office again (incumbents serving more than two terms would be allowed to finish their current term). The moderator separated the procedural secret-ballot question from the substantive term-limit question and called votes on each in turn.

The secret-ballot question failed overwhelmingly on a counted vote (38 in favor, 197 opposed as announced on the floor). The subsequent substantive motion on term limits was then considered and, after teller count, failed by a vote of 47 in favor and 189 opposed.

During floor discussion, several residents spoke against term limits, arguing that voters should retain the right to reelect experienced officials; one speaker read a prepared statement asserting that term limits remove voters’ regular evaluations of incumbents. Supporters argued the limits would prevent long incumbencies but did not secure a majority. With the article defeated, no change to eligibility for office was enacted.