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Public hearing on term limits draws election judges' support for removing limits
Summary
During a May 5 public hearing commissioners heard from election judges urging removal of term limits for county clerk, treasurer and assessor so experienced people remain eligible; commissioners indicated the decision will go to voters if they choose to place it on the ballot.
The Rio Blanco County Board of Commissioners opened a public hearing May 5 on whether to place term limits for county elected offices on the November ballot. Christie Hickin, speaking for election judges, urged the board to allow voters to decide and to remove term limits for the clerk, treasurer and assessor.
"I've been an election judge for 30 years ... I will always believe and hope that voters are the best term limit determiners," Christie Hickin said, noting that experience in the clerk's office improved operations and that recruiting qualified candidates is difficult when offices are subject to term limits.
Commissioners discussed the difficulty of recruiting qualified candidates, the desire to give voters the final say, and the potential for attracting younger entrants to local elected office without term limits. Several commissioners said they supported returning the question to the public. No formal action to place the issue on the ballot was taken at the meeting; the chair said a resolution to proceed would be considered at a future meeting should the board decide to move forward.
The hearing was closed after public comment and the board returned to other business.
