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Ridgecrest places term-limit and mayoral-term changes on June ballot after heated public comment
Summary
Council voted to place two measures on the June 2 consolidated ballot to convert the '28 consecutive years' rule into two four-year terms and to change the mayoral term from two to four years; the item drew sustained public comment from the original initiative author and residents concerned about resetting incumbents' clocks.
Ridgecrest's City Council voted Feb. 4 to place two ballot measures before voters on the June 2, 2026 consolidated ballot: one would change the municipal code's term-limit metric from an "8 consecutive years" rule to "two 4-year terms" and clarify how appointed partial terms count toward limits; the other would change the elected mayor's term from two to four years.
City Attorney Martin said the measures are intended to correct an ambiguity in the code about how long an appointed council member's partial term counts for term-limit purposes. "In order to correct an ambiguity, shall the City of Ridgecrest Municipal Code be amended to change term limits from 8 consecutive years to 2 4-year terms and provide for purposes of term limits that any council member appointed to a partial term of more than 2 years shall be deemed to have served a full term," Martin read to the council.
The item drew prolonged public comment and sharp disagreement. Tom Wignick, who identified himself as the author of the original citizen initiative that established the existing eight-year rule, urged the council not to change the existing measure and warned that the proposed language could be used to extend incumbents' service. "There's no problem with the current initiative," Wignick said. "You're making a problem that doesn't exist."
Other public commenters and at least one resident characterized aspects of the proposed language (subsection e in the draft) as a legal maneuver that could reset current officeholders' term counts. Council members responded that the intent is to clarify the ordinance so appointed partial terms are not automatically counted against new appointees.
Council voted to call the election and place the questions on the June ballot by roll call: Mayor Endicott Aye, Mister Blades Aye, Mister Heyman Aye, Mister Gorman Aye; motion carried 4'0with 1 absent. Staff noted there is a county cost to putting measures on the ballot and estimated consolidation costs already because the June primary was scheduled.
What voters will decide: if approved by voters, the municipal code would be amended to codify term definitions and change the length of the mayor's elected term. If either or both measures pass, council will return ordinances for confirmation and implement the code changes.
Next steps: the measures will appear on the June 2, 2026 ballot and staff will finalize the ballot language with any cleanup amendments the council directed.
