Term Limits - a message from Rep.'s Tom Trail and Shirley Ringo

["Rep. Trail" <RepTrail@infotrail.com>]

Subject:  Term Limits

Both of us want to get input from constituents in District #5 considering
the issue of term limits.  Several bills have been introduced in the House
and Senate already regarding this issue.   We would appreciate your
insights, observations, and recommendations regarding term limits.

We have not been supporters of term limits.  We believe that people should
be voted in or out of office atthe ballot box.  We are concerned about the
problems that will occur at the local level because of term limits.  This
directly impacts on the term of service of school board members, county
commissioners, sheriff, etc.  At
the school board and city council level (especially smaller communities) it
is difficult to recruit
citizens to serve in these positions.   One might consider whether it is
desirable to lose individuals who serve well in some of these positions. 

There are a number of bills in various stages to modify term limits.  One
bill would repeal term limits for all officials.   Another bill would allow
the voters of  districts to determine whether or not term limits should be
repealed in terms of local officials.

There was not much of a campaign against term limits.  About $500,000 was
spent on the campaign to support term limits.   Only 1.8% came Idaho
citizens, 22.2% came from one Idaho contributor, Donna Weaver, and 76.1%
came from out of state.  About $240,000 of the $500,000 was spent in the
State of Missouri.

To vote to repeal term limits for legislators might seem to be self serving;
however, neither of us knows whether or not we will be interested in serving
more than 4 terms (allowed under the current legislation and assuming that
we were re-elected).  The term limits initiative passed in the 98 election
by about a  3% margin, and there are questions of whether voters clearly
realized the impact in terms of especially on local officials.   One option
is to once again ask voters in 2000 to advise the legislature on term limits
in terms of separating out the vote on 1) legislators and 2) local officials
in two advisory initiatives.   At this point we tend to favor repealing term
limits, but we would appreciate getting direction from you.`

If you have an interest in this issue you can contact us at: (208)
332-1000--phone at  
the legislature.   Our legislative fax number is 208-334-5397 and
e-mailnfocntr@Iso.state.is.us,  mjmaxwell@juno.com, or RepTrail@infotrail.com.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Representatives Trail and Ringo



Rep. Trail's legislative newsletters and additional materials and
information can be found at http://www.infotrail.com/idaho/idaho.html

Boise address:

Idaho State Legislature,
State Capitol Bldg
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0038.

Rep Trail can be reached at the House Communications Center at:

208-332-1000  (phone)
208-334-5397  (fax)